The Philadelphia Eagles activated veteran tight end Zach Ertz from the practice squad ahead of their Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears, the team announced hours before kickoff at 8:15 p.m. ET.
Ertz, 35, was signed to the practice squad last week after starting tight end Dallas Goedert suffered a sprained MCL in Week 2. The move comes as the Eagles face a shortage of healthy tight ends, with only Ertz, Johnny Mundt, and E.J. Jenkins available on the 53-man roster. Ertz previously played seven seasons with Philadelphia before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2022.
The Eagles enter the game with a 2-0 record, including a narrow 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 1 and a late touchdown victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Chicago, meanwhile, is 1-1 after a Week 1 offensive explosion (59 points vs. Carolina) and a Week 2 loss to Minnesota in which quarterback Caleb Williams played despite injury.
Key Matchup Details:
- Ertz’s Return: The tight end last played for Philadelphia in 2021 and recorded 50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games with Washington in 2025 before suffering a season-ending ACL tear. He is fully recovered and expected to contribute immediately.
- Bears’ Quarterback Uncertainty: Williams, the Bears’ first-round draft pick, is out for the game due to injury, marking the team’s third different starting quarterback in three weeks. Case Keenum, a veteran journeyman, will start in his place.
- Coaching Context: Philadelphia head coach Nick Sirianni has led the Eagles to a 61-26 record since 2021, including a Super Bowl victory, while Chicago’s Ben Johnson is in his first season as head coach after guiding the Bears to an NFC North title in 2024.
The game features two playoff teams from 2024, with Philadelphia holding a historical edge in the series (30-18 overall, 6-1 in the last seven meetings). Chicago’s last win came in 2023, a 24-15 victory in Philadelphia.
Injury and Availability Notes:
- Eagles: Goedert (MCL sprain) remains on injured reserve; rookie Eli Stowers and tight end Grant Calcaterra are also sidelined.
- Bears: Williams (injury) and backup Tyson Bagent (concussion protocol) are unavailable, leaving Keenum as the starter.