In addition to a cracked rib, Eagles tight end Zach Ertz is dealing with a lacerated kidney, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (via Twitter). Ertz is unavailable for Philadelphia’s critical game against the Giants this afternoon, but if the team should win and clinch a playoff berth, RapSheet says Ertz could be back for the playoff opener next week.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer confirms RapSheet’s report but says Ertz’s playoff availability is uncertain (Twitter link).
It’s another difficult blow for the Eagles, who have been ravaged by injury all season. Even if they clinch the historically weak NFC East today, they will not be expected to do much damage in the postseason, and losing Ertz would further undermine their chances.
Ertz was named to this third consecutive Pro Bowl this year, and if he had been able to play today, he may have cracked the 1,000-yard barrier for the second straight season. He recorded 88 catches for 916 yards and six TDs and was clearly the most effective (and available) receiving weapon for Philadelphia in 2019. He is under contract through 2021, but the team is reportedly looking to extend his current deal.
The Eagles will need to rely more heavily on second-year player Dallas Goedert and the newly-signed Richard Rodgers in Ertz’s absence.
oh nooooooooo this is tragic for eagles fans
All thanks to a dirty hit by the Cowboys.
Nothing dirty about the hit
It was a perfectly clean hit
Didn’t lower his helmet
Put his shoulder right in the stomach
Nothing dirty
I dislike the Cowboys, but I could see it was clean.
it was a high throw
Targeting
only thing that could even be debated was that he was a defenseless receiver