Jalen Hurts said he is glad to have Zach Ertz back in a Philadelphia Eagles locker room, calling the veteran tight end a smart and reliable target as Philadelphia prepares for a Monday night road game against the Chicago Bears.
Hurts spoke during his weekly media availability ahead of the Week 3 matchup. The comments came days after the Eagles added Ertz to the practice squad, reuniting the two for the first time since 2021.
“It’s great for him to be back,” Hurts said. “The history he has here, the resume he has here, I know it’s a big deal for him. I know this is where he’s had his eyes and his sights on, and it’s good to be competing with him again.”
Hurts and Ertz were teammates during Hurts’ first two NFL seasons. Ertz was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in October 2021, midway through Hurts’ first year as the full-time starter.
Five years later, the Eagles brought the 35-year-old back. Ertz had spent the previous two seasons with the Washington Commanders before tearing an ACL late last year. He signed with Philadelphia’s practice squad this week after Dallas Goedert suffered a sprained MCL in Sunday’s win at Tennessee.
Hurts praised what Ertz can still offer on the field.
“High-intellect player. Great hands, knows how to separate,” Hurts said. “He’s been very consistent throughout his career.”
Ertz has 825 career receptions, ranking fifth all-time among tight ends, along with 8,592 receiving yards and 57 touchdowns. He was a second-round pick by the Eagles in 2013 and spent 8 1/2 seasons in Philadelphia.
He finished his first stint with the team with 579 receptions. That leaves him 11 catches short of passing Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael’s franchise record of 589. Any catches he records now would count toward that mark.
The Eagles turned to Ertz because their tight end group is thin. Goedert is expected to miss a few weeks. Grant Calcaterra and Eli Stowers are already on injured reserve, leaving mainly blocking specialist Johnny Mundt and little-used E.J. Jenkins on the active roster.
Other injuries are also a concern heading into Chicago. Offensive lineman Landon Dickerson is on injured reserve. Wide receiver DeVonta Smith (hamstring), running back Will Shipley (foot) and running back Tank Bigsby (abdomen) missed practice Thursday. Running back Saquon Barkley was limited with a stinger.
The extra day before Monday night’s game at Soldier Field could help some of those players recover. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m. ET.
Ertz’s exact role remains unclear. He must first earn his way off the practice squad and into game plans. Coaches have not said how many snaps he might see against the Bears.
Still, his experience is obvious. Ertz made two important plays in Super Bowl LII, including an 11-yard touchdown catch that put Philadelphia ahead for good in the 41-33 win over New England.
He has nine seasons with at least 50 receptions and 14 career 100-yard games. Those numbers explain why the Eagles reached out after Goedert went down.
Hurts and the offense will need reliable options Monday. Chicago presents a different challenge than the Titans did last week, and Philadelphia cannot afford another week of limited tight end production.
Ertz has said he wants to keep playing and is treating the return as another chance to work. For Hurts, the reunion is simpler. He already knows what the veteran can do.
