Pro Football Rumors
Zach Ertz continues to be in the midst of his recovery from an ACL tear. The free agent tight end is still unsigned at this time, but playing in 2026 remains his target.
In April, Ertz said his rehab process was ahead of schedule. He has continued to make progress on that front since then, so interest on the open market could pick up during the summer. During his latest comments on his health, Ertz indicated there have not been any setbacks.
“We’re in a good spot. We’re like five, almost six months now from surgery,” the 35-year-old said during an appearance on the New Heights podcast (video link). “Just training every day, doing everything I can to get back to where I was. It’s a long process. There’s some long days, there’s some long weeks, some long months… it’s tough, but we’re just trying to stack these days right now.”
In Week 14 last season, the ACL tear brought about an abrupt end to Ertz’s 13th NFL season and second in Washington. The three-time Pro Bowler has remained productive deep into his career, totaling 116 catches and 11 touchdowns during his time with the Commanders. Ertz has mentioned a willingness to return to the Eagles, the team with which he played his first 123 games. Philadelphia retained Dallas Goedert this offseason before drafting Eli Stowers, though, so an Ertz reunion is unlikely.
Given the timeline for ACL recoveries, Ertz is a strong candidate to remain a free agent well into training camp (if not longer). If he manages to heal in full, however, he could represent a veteran target for any number of teams seeking experience at the tight end spot early in 2026. Ertz’s market will be worth watching once his rehab process reaches its latter stages.
