On the Kelce Brothers’ New Heights Podcast, Ertz said he is doing everything he can to return this season after a torn ACL in Week 14 ended his season. The 35-year old free agent doesn’t want last season to be his final act after posting a 50-504-5 line as the Commanders’ starting TE. If a team wants the veteran, he will likely sign later in the summer.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that TE Zach Ertz plans to play this season. That's notable, of course, because Ertz tore his right ACL in December, about a month after he turned 35. Pelissero adds that the TE is "expected to be cleared right around Week 1." Ertz will hit unrestricted free agency in March.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz is feared to have torn his right ACL in Sunday's loss to the Vikings, HC Dan Quinn said afterward. We should get confirmation of the injury tomorrow. It would end Ertz's season and could put the 35-year-old's career in jeopardy. Ertz's absence will leave Washington's TE room to Ben Sinnott and John Bates. We'll see if Sinnott -- a 2024 second-rounder -- can build any momentum, but we wouldn't bother adding him to fantasy rosters.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz suffered a serious-looking right knee injury in the third quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Vikings. He was placed in an air cast and was emotional as he was carted back to the locker room. We'll update Ertz's status when we know more, but this looks like a season-ender.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) will start this weekend's game vs. the Vikings, HC Dan Quinn confirmed on Friday. Daniels returned to practice last week and then graduated to full participation on Thursday. The left elbow injury won't impact his passing, but it's possible that Daniels' rushing production is limited, at least in his first game back. That knocks him a bit below his usual spot in the weekly QB rankings, but Daniels is still in the mix as a risk/reward QB1 play this week. QB Marcus Mariota has played well this season, but consider Daniels' return an upgrade for Washington's pass catchers.

After playing in only one game since Week 3, Washington WR Terry McLaurin returned to the Commanders' lineup and absorbed a team-high 14 targets in Washington's 27-26 overtime loss to Denver. McLaurin's presence made an immediate impact on Washington's offense. The Commanders racked up 419 yards of offense on Denver's elite defense, but it wasn't enough as the Broncos won their ninth straight.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin suffered a setback with his quad injury in Monday night's loss to the Chiefs and is out for Week 9, HC Dan Quinn said Wednesday. McLaurin missed four weeks with this injury the first time, and players often miss more time with setbacks. That's just speculation -- and we'll look for more info on McLaurin's status -- but fantasy managers should plan to be without him beyond Week 9.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz recorded his fourth TD of the season in Sunday's blowout loss at Dallas. He added 3 catches for 37 yards on a team-high 7 targets.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz (shoulder, calf) is active for today’s game vs. the Cowboys. He went from no practice on Wednesday to full participation on Thursday to limited on Friday. That adds some risk to Ertz’s Week 7 profile. But he could be busy in this likely shootout with the Commanders missing WRs Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and Noah Brown.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz (shoulder, calf) is expected to play vs. the Cowboys today, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Ertz is listed as questionable and carries additional risk with the shoulder and calf issues. But there's also elevated target upside here with the Commanders missing WRs Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel, and Noah Brown. Ertz checks in 12th in the Week 7 TE rankings.

Washington has downgraded WR Deebo Samuel to out for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. He's not even traveling with the team, thanks to the heel injury that he played through in last Monday night's loss to the Bears. Samuel still led the team's pass catchers in playing time for that contest.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz (shoulder, calf) is listed as questionable for this weekend's game vs. the Cowboys. He went from no practice on Wednesday to full participation on Thursday to limited on Friday. We'll look for more info on Ertz's status for this one. Washington could certainly use him with WRs Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown out and WR Deebo Samuel banged up.

TE Zach Ertz led the Commanders in targets (six) and receptions (6) for Monday night's loss to the Bears. He tallied 43 yards and scored a 6-yard TD early in the fourth quarter. Ertz's 30 routes ranked second on the team, trailing WR Deebo Samuel by just one and constituting an 83.3% rate among Jayden Daniels' 36 dropbacks. The usage marked a rebound for Ertz.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin (quad) is "very much in doubt" for Sunday's game against the Falcons, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "Would not be surprised at all if he missed the game," Rapoport adds. McLaurin is still seeking additional opinions on his injury, including from core-muscle expect Dr. William Meyers. "As of now, they believe it's a quad injury. But more tests coming," Rapoport says. We'll look for further details on McLaurin's injury, but he seems unlikely at this point to be ready by Sunday.

Commanders QB Marcus Mariota will start this weekend's game vs. the Raiders, HC Dan Quinn said Friday. It's been trending this way most of the week, with Washington erring on the side of caution with QB Jayden Daniels' knee injury. Daniels did return to a limited practice on Friday, which should have him on track to return for Week 4. But it'll be Mariota under center on Sunday, making him an intriguing fantasy spot starter.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (knee) won't practice until Friday at the earliest, HC Dan Quinn said. Quinn added that Daniels had a good rehab session with his knee on Wednesday. But as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says, "Another sign that Marcus Mariota could very well be starting" vs. the Raiders this weekend.

The Commanders have agreed to a one-year deal with TE Zach Ertz. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that Ertz will get $6.25 million, with incentives that could push it to $9 million. That marks a big jump from the one-year, $3 million pact that brought Ertz to Washington in 2024.

The Commanders spent a second-round pick (53rd overall) on TE Ben Sinnott last spring, and then they tossed him just 5 targets across 17 games. He caught them all but managed only 28 yards (5.6 per catch). And Sinnott's lackluster playing time dwindled at the end of the year. He played no more than eight snaps in any of the final six contests, including the three playoff games. There's some 2025 hope for Sinnott with TE Zach Ertz and TE John Bates both set to hit free agency this month. But ESPN's John Keim says he "knows" Washington wants both guys back.

Commanders TE Zach Ertz (concussion, shoulder) is active for today’s game vs. the Eagles. His playing time shouldn’t be impacted by last week’s concussion, but Ertz draws a tough matchup against the No. 8 TE defense. See where he sits in the Week 16 TE Rankings.