Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz suffered a season-ending and possibly career-ending injury in Sunday's loss vs. Minnesota, but there's optimism around quarterback Jayden Daniels
Washington's worst fear for tight end Zach Ertz materialized after head coach Dan Quinn the NFL veteran suffered a season-ending torn ACL, a potentially career-ending injury for the 35 year old tight end.
Ertz was the second of two major injuries in Washington's 31-0 loss at Minnesota on Sunday, going down after quarterback Jayden Daniels reaggrevated his elbow injury. Ertz suffered the injury on a pass target before taking a hit to the knee, eventually carting him off the field.
"He has meant a lot to our team both on and off the field," head coach Dan Quinn confirmed during Monday's press conference.
Ertz entered the week ranked fifth all time among tight ends in receptions with 824, surpassing Shannon Sharpe vs. Denver, while his 116 receptions during the 2018 season still marks an NFL single-season record for tight ends. Ertz has also posted six seasons totaling 70 or more catches, tied with Antonio Gates for fourth-most among tight ends, with his 824 receptions and 8,581 receiving yards the second-most since 2013 at his position to only Travis Kelce.
With Ertz now sidelined for the final four games, former 2021 fourth round pick John Bates steps in as the likely primary tight end after entering week 14 listed as Ertz's primary backup, though whether former 2024 second round pick Ben Sinnott is able to capitalize on a potentially expanded role will be worth tracking over the final month with Washington likely entering the 2026 offseason with tight end joining the list of needs.
As for Daniels, Quinn was more optimistic about the second year quarterback despite re-aggrevating an injury, his third of the 2025 season.
Quinn said there are no "long term concerns" around Daniels, adding he feels sore heading into the week but whether he returns as the starting quarterback remains a question heading into Sunday's road game against the New York Giants.
Daniels went down midway through the third quarter on a fourth down attempt with his pass batted down at the line of scrimmage before being tackled during the chase down, falling on his injured elbow with the Commanders trailing 14-0. Marcus Mariota made his ninth appearance of the season, finishing 2-of-4 for 30 yards and one interception as the Commanders ended the game with turnovers on three of their final four possessions.
While Sunday's road loss marked the most humbling of any during the two-month losing streak, the latest defeat marked as the nail in the coffin for Washington's postseason hopes after being officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Washington will shift its attention to divisional play starting this weekend, the first of four games against division opponents, with the Commanders set to face the New York Giants on the road. One year after falling one win shy of a Super Bowl appearance, what would have been the first since winning in 1991, head coach Dan Quinn reflected on the setback season.
"Once you get to having to watch January and February football, that sucks," Quinn added. "And so you want to make sure that you're doing everything you can in your power to set us up and never be in this spot again. With these four games in the division, they all matter, man."