Overview
- Multiple outlets reported Wednesday that three-time Pro Bowler Zach Ertz has been cleared for all football activities after a December 2025 ACL tear and says he wants to play in 2026.
- Video from a Stanford workout showing Ertz catching passes from his college quarterback Andrew Luck circulated widely and reinforced reports that he is moving beyond rehab to on-field preparation.
- Sources say Ertz should be ready to sign with a team by mid‑August, shifting his status from rehabbing veteran to active free agent target as training camps progress.
- Washington’s signing of Chig Okonkwo and existing tight end depth make a Commanders return unlikely, so analysts are pitching other teams that need pass-catching depth as realistic landing spots.
- At 35, Ertz is expected to seek a short, inexpensive deal; his recent production and career totals make him a potential weekly contributor or insurance option whose signing could alter tight end rotations and red-zone plans.