Ashburn, VA (AP) – Thought attacked Zack Erstez’s brain at the end of 2023 when he was out of football and was removed from knee surgery for a year. He was not ready to retire, but he was worried about something.
“Are you still the same player?” He surprised himself.
Erstez not only showed that he was, now he is one step from playing for another championship.
Experienced tight ends returned to Philadelphia to face Eagles this weekend NFC title game As a valuable member of Washington commanders’ high scoring crime. Either Eritz or the team with which he spent his first 8 1/2 NFL season is going to the super bowl.
“When the whistle rings, it will not be about nine years I spent there. It is trying to make more plays for the team,” Artz said this week. “But I’m not going out of my shoulder and trying to prove people X, Y or Z. I’m just trying to go there and be the best version of myself. “
The 34 -year -old Erstez has been a good version of itself for the past several months, which revived his love for football while playing for coach Dan Quinn. Offensive Coordinator Cliff KingburyWhom he knew from Arizona with his time. Oh, and with Dukabaz Quarterback Jaden DanielsToo
“Obviously playing with Quarterback like Jaden has helped a ton,” said Erstez.
Daniels only targeted number 1 wide receiver Terry Mac Lauren This season, completing 657 yards and 66 for seven touchdowns in this season. Both of them connected 51 yards in the first two games of the playoff and seven times for a TD.
“Obviously, a tight end can be a best friend of the quarterback,” Daniels said. “He has seen a lot of football in this league, so (it has been good) in some situations to be able to rely on it and choose his brain.”
The same brain was worried about what was going to happen after a number of ligaments were broken into the right knee of Errots during a game in 2022. After trading last season from Philadelphia, the Chot reduced its first entire season with cardinals when Kingbesri was coaching. .
It turns out that it was the only complete season of Erotz in the desert. Kingsbury was fired. Previous off -season, and the new government Ertz issued In November 2023. In spite of some things that a contender was interested in the winning player, the contract was not made.
“I really didn’t know what the future was,” said Erstez. And I had opportunities to play, but this was not the right opportunity.
The right occasion came in March After working months with a long -term trainer Shannon trolley, and New Commanders General Manager Adam Peters Quinn hired and he Kings were brought to. To drive the crime. The rest has been a carrier renovating.
“It was really a chance for me to love the game again, I would say, and really just enjoy this process and just be with those who know how to use me and show me my best performance Allow, “Artz said. “This has exceeded all my expectations.”
Washington exceeds expectations. By going 12-5 during the regular season and removing the problems In the Tampa Bay And Deterite To Play for a conference championship For the first time in 33 years. Artz Roster is just one of the five players who were currently alive for the franchise’s super -bowl run.
Some gray ball team has not been able to pay any attention to teammates. Pleased that Errotz has signed for another ride.
“He has experienced experience in all high -level situations, and he has done a great job, I think just coming now and showing young boys ropes and how things are done and how to be a real professional,” John Bates said the tough end of the fourth year. “He has been a reliable target for us in the pass game and has stepped into every situation in which we need it and made big plays.”
Erotz, Eagles Choosing Pro Bowl three times during his time, including the 2017 season when he helped them. Win your first Super Bowl.He knows that he is not playing 90% Snap as he did in his prime. But these days success is less about the volume and more dependent, and Artz has been a kind of safety valve for Daniels.
“I knew the Red Zone and Third Downs and two minutes would be an element,” said Quinn. “And he left them behind and continued.”
Erstez took only 18 catches in six games for Philadelphia in 2021, before Nick Syrian as coach, before trading in Arizona. Held Two words exchange Before the commanders defeated the Eagles in the second meeting of the teams on December 22, before the air was cleaned.
“Zack and I are good,” Sariani said. “We talked after that night, had a good laugh. I was very impressed with all the plays he made. It is not as if I am very surprised … he’s playing really good football. There has been a big target for the team on Third Down and Fourth Downt, and he is doing all the work I remember he was able to do very high.
While Daniels were in Arizona State before moving to the LSU, where they Hezman won the trophy Last season, Erstez spent a little time with Qib Jaln Hearts in the Philly, where he tied in the weight room.
“He is very diligent with the morality of his work and is always in the care of his body,” said Artz. “It has been a very long and great career. He is still having an impact by playing a big time ball.”
Erstez welcomed his first game in the Lincoln Financial Field in November and realizes it will not be the same “because he is at stake as well.” She and the wife Julie’s Artz Family Foundation still works in the city that she still loves – and she is happy that she received an emotional return in the fall before the playoffs.
“I understand the environment that is going to happen,” said Ersetz, Ersetz said. “Everyone knows how I feel about this building, the people of this building, the people of this community.”
People in Washington’s burgundy and gold crowd will be happy for it, as Eartz has returned to her drain.
He said, “I just wanted an opportunity to come here and prove that I am still the same man.” “It has been great to go there and play for this team.”
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AP Sports Writer Dan Galston in Philadelphia cooperated in the report.
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