Per PHLY Sports' EJ Smith, there's mutual interest between the two sides, though nothing is imminent given Ertz is still approaching the nine-month recovery mark from a torn ACL suffered last December with the Washington Commanders.
Ertz was cleared for football activities earlier this month, and that nine-month benchmark, which arrives next week, is often the timeline teams use when evaluating a player coming off that type of injury.
The Need Is Real
Philadelphia kept four tight ends on its initial 53-man roster, Dallas Goedert, Johnny Mundt, Eli Stowers, and E.J. Jenkins, but the group still lacks proven depth behind Goedert, who has missed significant time in four of his last five seasons.
Second-round rookie Eli Stowers has struggled to make an impact in camp, working primarily with the second and third teams while also nursing a hamstring issue, and Northeast Times noted his development as a blocker has been slow.
Grant Calcaterra, another option, was placed on injured reserve and must miss at least four games.
🚨🚨BREAKING #Eagles are working on a reunion with TE Zach Ertz pic.twitter.com/bk4eCxpzBz
— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) August 31, 2026
Ertz was productive before last year's injury, catching 50 passes for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games for Washington, on pace for roughly 65 catches and 659 yards over a full season.
He's also 10 receptions away from tying Harold Carmichael for the franchise record in catches.
A Fitting Return
Ertz spent nine seasons with the Eagles after being drafted 35th overall in 2013, earned three Pro Bowl selections, and caught the winning touchdown in Super Bowl LII before being traded to Arizona in 2021.
He's said in the past he'd love to finish his career back where it started, and he played alongside Jalen Hurts in 2020 and part of 2021, giving the two existing chemistry to build on.
A Zach Ertz reunion with the Eagles is on the table, per @EJSmith94 pic.twitter.com/UIghugGkMZ
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 31, 2026
GM Howie Roseman has a track record of exactly this kind of move, having previously brought back Marcus Epps, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nick Foles, DeSean Jackson, and Jordan Matthews among others.
Philadelphia entered the week with roughly $22 million in cap space, and with Ertz reportedly not seeking a big contract after earning more than $80 million over his career, a low-cost deal remains realistic if both sides stay interested as his recovery timeline clears.
