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John Keim
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders tight finish Zach Ertz made his intentions clear: He would not need 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 recreation.
“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 the whole lot going ahead, and so they know the way I really feel about this place.”
In Washington’s 55-23 loss to Philadelphia within the NFC Championship Sport 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 shall 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 elements 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 road,” Ertz mentioned. “I can bang down the door and say I need 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. Daily 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 need 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 a long time. The Commanders, who went 12-5 within the common season, have been helped by veterans comparable 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 need to say I proved I used to be the identical participant, however I form of did,” Ertz mentioned. “I did not play as a lot as I did once I was 28 so far as play time proportion, however I really feel the influence I had once I was on the market was comparable. … 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 sector, off the sector, a yr I actually beloved.”
Washington basic supervisor Adam Peters and coach Dan Quinn didn’t deal with 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 comparable to third down or purple zone.
“I did not have expectations previous that,” Quinn mentioned. “It simply expanded and he would not play each snap, however he performed greater than I might’ve thought getting into. And that is, I believe, an actual tribute to him within the work that he did to prepare.”
