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Zach Ertz Expected to Be with Eagles This Season Despite Trade Rumors, GM Says
July 28, 2021
Trade rumors have circulated around veteran tight end Zach Ertz all offseason. But it sounds as though he's staying with the Philadelphia Eagles for another year.
General manager Howie Roseman told reporters Wednesday that he expects Ertz to be with the team this season.
Howard Eskin of Sports Radio 94 WIP reported last week that Ertz "has been working out in team facility for close to [the] last two weeks with teammates. He's over the issues."
Ertz, 30, has spent his entire career with the Eagles after they selected him with a second-round pick in 2013. He's been named to the Pro Bowl three times and was a key player in the team's 2017 Super Bowl title.
But after posting five straight seasons with at least 70 receptions and 800 receiving yards from 2015 through 2019—including an epic 2018 campaign (116 receptions for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns)—Ertz had the worst year of his career in 2020, catching only 36 passes for 365 yards and one score in 11 games.
Injuries and Carson Wentz's dreadful campaign played a part in his dramatic drop in production. But with the Eagles now rebuilding and promising young tight end Dallas Goedert also on the roster, Ertz seemed likely to get traded this offseason.
Michael Silver @MikeSilverMultiple teams have called the Eagles about the possibility of trading for three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz, and a deal could happen in the coming days, according to two sources familiar with the talks. <a href="https://twitter.com/nflnetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nflnetwork</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AroundTheNFL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AroundTheNFL</a>
Jeff McLane @Jeff_McLaneZach Ertz’s preference, if the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eagles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eagles</a> are prepared to move on, would clearly be to be released. He wants to pick his destination. The team obviously wants to get something in return. So that conflict will play out over the next week as both sides jockey to get what they want.
Ertz is only under contract through the 2021 season, so a divorce could be on the horizon regardless. But with training camp underway and Ertz in attendance, the possibility of one last go-around with the Eagles seems increasingly likely.