Philadelphia Eagles: 3 Bold predictions for Zach Ertz going forward

3. Like it or not Philadelphia Eagles fans, 86 won’t be back in 2021.

If you’ve learned nothing else from being an Eagles fan, it should have been this. Most things don’t end as you believe they should. Very rarely do great Eagles retire as Eagles. Sure, it happens, but for every Jason Kelce, you can name Duce Staley, Reggie White, Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid, and Brian Dawkins. It’s like a bad touchdown-to-interception ratio.

The only difference between this Eagles franchise in the past and the one that we’ve gotten to know during recent seasons is this. Once upon a time, they moved on from players a year or two too early. Now, they move on from guys later than they should, especially at the skill positions.

Maybe Zach Ertz is frustrated by his contract situation. Maybe he’s past his prime. Maybe he deserves less than he believes he does, but with Philly’s salary cap issues, it’s hard to imagine a scenario in which he’s on this team in 2021.

Never question the heart of a champ, but these are the last five games that we’ll see Ertz wear the number 86 in an Eagles jersey. He’ll show and prove in Philly’s last two games. He deserves that, but the Eagles’ financial woes in 2021 don’t seem as though they’ll aid this team’s ability to hold on to some of the veterans who need extensions. Zach Ertz is one of those veterans. As sad as that might be to some of you, it’s the truth.