Commanders tight end Zach Ertz tore his ACL in Sunday’s blowout loss to the Vikings in Minnesota, coach Dan Quinn confirmed Monday.
The 35-year-old pass-catcher jumped into the air in the third quarter to snag a high pass from backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. While Ertz was off the ground, Vikings cornerback Jay Ward collided with his right leg, causing it to bend unnaturally at the knee.
Team medical staff took him to the locker room following the injury. The Stanford product appeared to fight off his tears as he left the field.
Ertz, who ranked second on the team in catches and receiving yards, will miss the remainder of the season.
“It’s never easy to see a guy go down. But somebody who, not only is a leader of this group, but one of the all-time guys that I’ve ever been around,” Mariota said. “Not easy to see.”
In 13 seasons, Ertz established himself as one of the league’s premier pass-catching tight ends. He ranks fifth all-time in receptions at the position after passing Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe earlier this season.
Ertz revived his career in Washington. After nine solid years as a Philadelphia Eagle, Ertz spent three lean seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
But Ertz rapidly became a favorite target of Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels after the pair joined the team in 2024. In two seasons, Ertz caught 116 passes for 1,158 yards with 11 touchdowns.
With the three-time Pro Bowler sidelined, teammates John Bates and Ben Sinnott will see more snaps at tight end. Bates has become one of the league’s most respected blockers, while Sinnott has failed to live up to his draft status since the Commanders selected him in the second round in 2024.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
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