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Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Things you may have missed about Zach Ertz’s career year

By Geoffrey Knox

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tight end Zach Ertz #86 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before taking on the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 23: Tight end Zach Ertz #86 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before taking on the Indianapolis Colts at Lincoln Financial Field on September 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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You may not have noticed, but Zach Ertz is having a career year. A closer look reveals that he’s doing a few things most tight ends have never done.

We’re approaching the end of Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz‘s sixth season in the NFL, and we’ve gotten exactly what we hoped for. Once upon a time, we just asked for a little consistency. Well, he’s done that, and truthfully he’s repaid our faith with results, He’s even added a little interest for good measure.

He’s one of the few things we can actually thank former Eagles head coach Chip Kelly for, and if all you’ve noticed over the past two seasons has been some highlight reel catches and a lot of touchdowns, you aren’t paying close enough attention.

Here are five things you may not have noticed.

1. He’s on pace to break the record for the most receptions in a season by a tight end.

Only three tight ends have ever broken the 100-catch plateau: Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, and Dallas Clark. Ertz only needs 16 catches to join them, and he has five games to do it. He could shatter Witten’s record of 110 catches.

2. No Eagles tight end has ever eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards, but Ertz might do just that.

That one speaks for itself. He needs 105 yards to do that, and, again, he has five games to get it done. It appears he has a pretty good shot.

3. Brian Westbrook better look out.

Currently, Brian Westbrook is in third place for the most catches in team history. Ertz needs 22 receptions to pass him. Westbrook is also the owner of the record for the most receptions by an Eagles in a single season with 90. Ertz has 84, and we’ll say it again.

He has five games remaining in the season. Do you see a recurring theme here?

4. It’s time to start bringing up names like Harold Carmichael and Pete Retzlaff.

Ahead of Brian Westbrook on the Eagles’ all-time career receptions list is Harold Carmichael (589) and Pete Retzlaff (452). Thanks to Ertz’s 84 receptions and 895 receiving yards in 2018, he trails Retzlaff by 47 receptions and Carmichael by 184. If he stays healthy, this record will also fall.

Next. Zach Ertz takes a break and surprises Northeast High School. dark

5. The NFL may have someone else at the top of their tight end mountain before it’s all said and done.

After 86 career games, Ertz has 405 receptions, 4,559 receiving yards and 27 touchdowns on his resume. He’s still in his sixth season. He’s eclipsed over 700 yards for five straight seasons. Barring injury, he should be in some pretty elite company by the time he calls it a career.

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