Ertz recorded 11 receptions on 16 targets for 104 yards in Sunday's 55-23 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Ertz was Jayden Daniels' favorite target throughout the game, allowing him to post the first 100-yard performance of his career in the postseason as well as his first overall since Week 9 of the 2019 season. He was particularly productive throughout the second half, tallying long gains of 21 and 16 yards. Ertz will enter the offseason as a free agent, though he had a resurgent season and will likely land a short-term deal in Washington or elsewhere around the league.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Full practice Thursday
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Ertz (rib/rest) practiced in full Thursday.
Ertz kicked off prep for the NFC Championship Game in the same manner as he did for the divisional round: DNP with listed rib/rest Wednesday. With an uncapped session now under his belt, the issue won't impede him from being available for Sunday's contest at Philadelphia, against whom he went for a combined 7-59-1 line on nine targets between two regular-season matchups.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Misses practice Wednesday
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Ertz (ribs/rest) didn't practice Wednesday.
The Commanders listed Ertz as a non-participant in their first practice of the week last Tuesday with the same "ribs/rest" label before he upgraded to limited participation Wednesday and full participation Thursday. He headed into this past Saturday's 45-31 divisional-round win over the Lions without a designation, finishing with five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown on five targets. If he follows a similar practice pattern this week, Ertz should be fully cleared ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Key role despite modest numbers
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Ertz brought in all five targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in the Commanders' 45-31 divisional-round win over the Lions on Saturday night.
The veteran tight end finished second in receptions for the Commanders, but he was only fourth in receiving yards thanks to his short-area role. However, Ertz's value went beyond the stat sheet Saturday, even though his five-yard touchdown grab late in the first half did extend Washington's lead to 10 points at the time. Additionally, Ertz was able to convert a key fourth down early in the second quarter that led to him being checked for a concussion and which helped lead to a Brian Robinson one-yard touchdown run, and he also managed to handle a tricky bounce and recover an onside kick with 5:01 remaining and Washington up by 14 points. Ertz should once again play a key complementary role in an NFC Championship Game battle against either the Rams or his old Eagles squad Sunday, Jan. 26.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Back in Saturday's game
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Ertz (head) returned to Saturday's divisional-round game in Detroit, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports.
In the first half of Saturday's back-and-forth affair, Ertz was checked for a concussion following a fourth-down connection with Jayden Daniels that eventually was followed by a Brian Robinson touchdown run. Ertz announced his return to the game with a TD of his own just before halftime and will look to build upon his 3-18-1 line on three targets.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Getting concussion check
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Ertz is under evaluation for a concussion during Saturday's divisional-round game at Detroit.
With the Commanders facing fourth-and-3 at the Lions' nine-yard line early in the second quarter, QB Jayden Daniels connected with Ertz for a seven-yard gain, but in the process of getting tackled the tight end took hits from multiple defenders and appeared to be banged-up afterward. If Ertz is diagnosed with a concussion, he'll finish Saturday's contest with two catches (on two targets) for 13 yards.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Ready for Saturday
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Ertz (ribs) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's divisional-round game at Detroit.
Ertz progressed from no activity Tuesday to some Wednesday before logging a full session Thursday as he tended to a rib injury. With his status confirmed ahead of Saturday's contest, he should be in store for the 5.3 targets per game that he's averaged in 18 outings between the regular season and playoffs.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Limited in Wednesday's practice
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Ertz was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a rib injury.
On Washington's initial divisional-round injury report released Tuesday, Ertz was listed as a non-participant in practice due to both the rib issue and rest, but only the rib issue appears next to his name on Wednesday's report. Ertz is likely just getting some extra maintenance ahead of Saturday's game against the Lions, as Commanders head coach Dan Quinn hasn't suggested that the veteran tight end's status for the contest is in any jeopardy. In the Commanders' wild-card win over the Buccaneers this past Sunday, Ertz played 62 percent of the snaps on offense and finished with two catches for 23 yards on four targets.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Meager output in Sunday's win
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Ertz had two receptions on four targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 23-20 wild-card round win over the Buccaneers.
Ertz failed to continue the scoring binge he went on in the second half of the regular season, but he still played a vital role in the Commanders advancing to the next round of the playoffs. The veteran tight end's receptions came on successful third- and fourth-down attempts as Washington dominated the time-of-possession game Sunday. Look for Ertz to remain involved as a key safety valve for Jayden Daniels as the sixth-seeded Commanders visit the No. 1-seeded Lions in Saturday's divisional round matchup.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Six TDs in last seven games
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Ertz caught all five of his targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 23-19 win over the Cowboys.
Ertz caught a four-yard touchdown pass from Marcus Mariota to put the Commanders ahead 10-9 in the third quarter. After scoring only once through Week 10, Ertz compiled six touchdowns in his last seven games to create substantial momentum ahead of the wild-card round of the playoffs, in which Washington will face either the Rams or Buccaneers. Ertz finishes his 12th NFL regular season with 66 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns on 91 targets.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: TEs to Start
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I liked Ertz in Week 17 against Atlanta, and he delivered a huge game with six catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns on seven targets for 25.2 PPR points. He's now scored at least 12.5 PPR points in four of his past six games, including Week 12 against Dallas when he had six catches for 38 yards and a touchdown on eight targets. I like Ertz as a top-10 Fantasy tight end in all leagues.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Scores twice on SNF
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Ertz hauled in six of seven targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 30-24 win against the Falcons.
Ertz came on strong with his first two-score outing of the 2024 campaign. The veteran tight end wound up scoring the game-winning touchdown in the thrilling overtime victory over Atlanta. Ertz had seen his production tail off in recent weeks, so Sunday's big fantasy game should inspire confidence in managers heading into a Week 18 matchup against the Cowboys, though it's unclear how much the Commanders will play their starters with a playoff spot locked up and no chance of rising above the No. 6 seed.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Sleeper TEs
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Ertz had a down game in Week 16 against Philadelphia with one catch for 12 yards on two targets, but prior to suffering a concussion in Week 15 at New Orleans, he scored at least 12.5 PPR points in three games in a row. I still like Ertz as a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 16 against Atlanta in Week 17. Seven tight ends have scored at least 8.2 PPR points against the Falcons this year, and Ertz should continue to be a go-to target for Jayden Daniels in this matchup.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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Ertz had a down game in Week 16 against Philadelphia with one catch for 12 yards on two targets, but prior to suffering a concussion in Week 15 at New Orleans he scored at least 12.5 PPR points in three games in a row. I still like Ertz as a low-end starter in all leagues in Week 16 against Atlanta in Week 17. Seven tight ends have scored at least 8.2 PPR points against the Falcons this year, and Ertz should continue to be a go-to target for Jayden Daniels in this matchup.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Notches one reception
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Ertz caught one of his two targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 36-33 win over the Eagles.
Ertz had a quiet day against the Eagles, matching his season-low total in receptions. The 34-year-old tight end has seen his involvement in the passing game drop off of late, with just four total targets over the past two contests. He's been held out of the end zone in that two-week stretch after scoring touchdowns in three straight games prior to Washington's Week 14 bye.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Contrarian DFS Play
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Ertz was awful last week, but he now has a good matchup against a bad pass defense with a lower roster rate and price. That makes him a perfect Week 17 contrarian play.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Cleared to play Sunday
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Ertz (concussion) is active for Sunday's game against the Eagles.
Just as head coach Dan Quinn suggested would be the case earlier Sunday, Ertz is good to go for a matchup with one of his former squads after he made rapid progress in his recovery from the concussion he sustained just one week earlier in a win over the Saints. Ertz sat out the Commanders' first Week 16 practice before upgrading to limited activity Thursday and Friday. He then received clearance from an independent neurologist at some point over the weekend and exited the NFL's concussion protocol. Despite the limited practice activity leading up to Sunday, Ertz is expected to fill his usual role as the Commanders' top tight end, and he shouldn't face any restrictions with his snap count.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Good to go, per coach
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Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that Ertz (concussion) -- who remains listed as questionable -- will play in Sunday's game against the Eagles, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Quinn's comments confirm that Ertz has cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol just one week after suffering the head injury in last Sunday's 20-19 win over the Saints. Ertz will have his questionable designation officially removed when Washington posts its inactive list 90 minutes ahead of the 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Despite not taking any contact this week as a limited practice participant Thursday and Friday, Ertz should settle back in as Washington's clear No. 1 tight end and likely won't face any major restrictions in terms of his snap count. Through 14 appearances on the season, Ertz has put together a 54-526-4 line on 77 targets.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Likely to be cleared for Sunday
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Ertz (concussion/shoulder) remains listed as questionable but is expected to play Sunday versus the Eagles, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Ertz sustained a concussion during the Commanders' Week 15 win over the Saints, and he was a non-participant or limited participant while taking no contact in any of the Commanders' three practices this week. Despite the lack of full activity this week, Ertz is still expected to gain clearance from an independent neurologist and clear the five-step protocol. Ertz won't be formally cleared until Washington releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, but assuming he's good to go, he should handle his usual duties as the Commanders' top tight end.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Status in question for Week 16
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Ertz (concussion/shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game versus the Eagles, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.
Ertz was diagnosed with a concussion during the Commanders' Week 15 win at New Orleans, but after missing Wednesday's practice, he was limited Thursday while wearing a black, non-contact jersey and maintained that activity level one day later. He still must gain clearance from an independent neurologist in order to suit up this weekend, and ultimately his status will be clarified about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, at the latest. John Bates and Ben Sinnott are on hand to cover for Ertz if the latter is inactive.