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 yr 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 yr,” Ertz mentioned Monday. “I really feel rejuvenated. I really feel younger. I performed good soccer this yr, so for me it is determining every part 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 crimson 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 can be a free agent when the brand new league yr 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 motive Ertz signed a one-year cope with Washington final offseason.
“Clearly it is a two-way road,” 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 yr I felt free to go on the market and be myself. Day-after-day folks constructed me up in a manner 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 yr.”
Washington’s gamers cleaned out their lockers Monday and bid farewell after one of many franchise’s finest seasons in years — even many years. The Commanders, who went 12-5 within the common season, have been helped by veterans reminiscent of Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner, one other pending free agent who has mentioned he desires 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 after I was 28 so far as play time proportion, however I really feel the influence I had after 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 yr of development on the sphere, off the sphere, a yr I actually beloved.”
Washington common 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 huge impact right here.” He was initially anticipating Ertz taking part in solely in conditions reminiscent of third down or crimson 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 stepping into. And that is, I believe, an actual tribute to him within the work that he did to prepare.”
