Putting 86 in any color other than Philadelphia Eagles green sounds blasphemous.
Regardless of what happens with the Zach Ertz story, no one will ever be able to deny that 86 is an Eagle through and through. 2020 wasn’t supposed to go down as it did for the greatest tight end in the history of this franchise.
86 was supposed to march through 2020 as he had marched through so many seasons that had preceded it. He was supposed to break Harold Carmichael’s record for the most receptions by anyone who had ever worn an Eagles jersey. He was supposed to team with Dallas Goedert to form one of the more potent one-two punches at tight end that the league had ever seen. If you’ll remember, it was Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert that caught Carson Wentz’s first two touchdown passes of the season.
Unfortunately, everything doesn’t always work out as planned, and Ertz battled injury, he expressed uneasiness about his contract, and he was even seen getting into a shouting match with Howie Roseman at practice. Ertz struggled in 2020, emotionally, physically, and mentally, and the 86 we knew looked like a shell of his former self.
That’s led many to believe that his time in the City of Brotherly Love is at its end, but Ertz is actually signed through next season thanks to Philly exercising an option in his deal during 2020’s offseason. Don’t be surprised if Ertz gets one more run in 2021, but then again, you can’t be surprised if he doesn’t either.