Title: Zach Ertz Requests Release from Arizona Cardinals, Eyes Return to Philadelphia Eagles
PHILADELPHIA, PA – In surprising news, Zach Ertz has officially requested and been granted his release from the Arizona Cardinals after a brief stint with the team. The former Philadelphia Eagles tight end is now on the lookout for a new team and hopes to join a contender for the remainder of the season.
The announcement came via a tweet from Ertz’s former teammate and Cardinals defensive end, J.J. Watt, who confirmed the news. Ertz’s departure from the Cardinals comes after spending his first 8 ½ seasons with the Eagles, where he solidified his standing as one of the franchise’s all-time greats.
During his time in Philadelphia, Ertz caught an impressive 579 passes, just 10 fewer than Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael. However, in a surprising move, the Eagles traded Ertz to the Cardinals for cornerback Tay Gowan and a 5th-round pick during the 2021 season.
Unfortunately, the Cardinals’ performance took a dip after Ertz’s arrival, going 6-6 the rest of that year and a disappointing 4-13 last season. In their current season, the team has struggled under first-year coach Jonathan Gannon, who previously served as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator. With a record of 2-10, the team is not living up to expectations.
Despite the team’s struggles, Ertz had a productive time with the Cardinals, amassing 130 catches for 1,167 yards and eight touchdowns in 28 games. However, his time on the field was cut short this year due to a quad injury, which has kept him out of play since Week 7. Prior to the injury, Ertz managed to secure 27 catches for 187 yards and one touchdown.
As one of the most productive tight ends in Eagles history, Ertz’s departure from Philadelphia left a void. He set impressive records during his time with the Eagles, including 579 catches for 6,267 yards and 38 touchdowns. Ertz also made the Pro Bowl after the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons and played a crucial role in the team’s Super Bowl victory in 2018.
Given the current shortage of tight ends on the Eagles roster, with Dallas Goedert still recovering from an arm fracture, Ertz’s desire to return to Philadelphia is not entirely far-fetched. One of his goals is to break Hall of Famer Harold Carmichael’s record, a feat that would solidify his legacy with the team.
As Ertz is released from his existing contract with the Cardinals, the 33-year-old player is now free to negotiate with potential suitors. His current contract included a base salary of $7.96 million for the year 2024.
With a career total of 709 receptions, Ertz ranks 8th in NFL history among tight ends. The football world will now eagerly await his next move as he searches for a new team and an opportunity to add to his impressive career statistics.
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