ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders tight finish Zach Ertz made his intentions clear: He does not wish to retire.
Ertz, who simply completed his twelfth season, mentioned he was energized throughout his first 12 months in Washington. He completed with 66 catches for 654 yards and 7 touchdowns — his most since 2018. That additionally occurred to be the final season earlier than this one which he performed in each sport.
“I am not retiring simply because I had a lot enjoyable this 12 months,” Ertz mentioned Monday. “I really feel rejuvenated. I really feel younger. I performed good soccer this 12 months, so for me it is determining all the pieces going ahead, they usually understand how I really feel about this place.”
In Washington’s 55-23 loss to Philadelphia within the NFC Championship Recreation on Sunday, Ertz posted season highs in catches (11) and yards (104). For the season, he ranked third amongst tight ends with 13 catches within the purple zone and tied for third with three touchdowns in that space. He had three catches on fourth down within the common season and 4 in three postseason video games.
Ertz will probably be a free agent when the brand new league 12 months begins in March however has mentioned how a lot he likes taking part in for Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, with whom he spent components of two seasons in Arizona. Kingsbury was a key purpose Ertz signed a one-year take care of Washington final offseason.
“Clearly it is a two-way avenue,” Ertz mentioned. “I can bang down the door and say I wish to be right here, but when they do not need me right here then it is a moot level.
“This 12 months I felt free to go on the market and be myself. Daily folks constructed me up in a approach that believed in me, that had confidence in me. Clearly taking part in with Jayden [Daniels] was extraordinarily enjoyable. I really feel we’re simply scratching the floor of a quarterback-tight finish mixture. I do not know what the long run holds, however I nonetheless wish to play soccer this 12 months.”
Washington’s gamers cleaned out their lockers Monday and bid farewell after one of many franchise’s finest seasons in years — even a long time. The Commanders, who went 12-5 within the common season, have been helped by veterans corresponding to Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner, one other pending free agent who has mentioned he needs to proceed taking part in.
Ertz produced after two seasons in Arizona, each of which ended with him on injured reserve for a mixed 17 video games.
“I do not wish to say I proved I used to be the identical participant, however I type of did,” Ertz mentioned. “I did not play as a lot as I did once I was 28 so far as play time share, however I really feel the influence I had once I was on the market was related. … I really feel I took a step ahead in management; it was my first time being voted a captain by my friends, it was an emotional factor for me. It was a 12 months of development on the sphere, off the sphere, a 12 months I actually liked.”
Washington normal supervisor Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn didn’t tackle their pending free agent class; with the season having simply ended they weren’t prepared to debate gamers’ futures. However final month Quinn mentioned Ertz has “had a big effect right here.” He was initially anticipating Ertz taking part in solely in conditions corresponding to third down or purple zone.
“I did not have expectations previous that,” Quinn mentioned. “It simply expanded and he does not play each snap, however he performed greater than I’d’ve thought getting in. And that is, I feel, an actual tribute to him within the work that he did to prepare.”
