Ertz dismisses drops talk ahead of Bucs game
PHILADELPHIA » Zach Ertz caught eight touchdown passes last year, second-most among tight ends in the NFL.
After one game this season he leads all tight ends – and all but one player in the league – in dropped passes.
Ertz dropped two balls in the first game. The only player who really knows how that feels is Golden Tate, for the Detroit Lions receiver also has two drops.
“I’m not worried,” said Ertz, who caught five passes for 48 yards in the Eagles’ 18-12 win over the Falcons. “If I catch those two balls, everybody would act like I had a great game. So, I’ve just got to be better.”
Ertz was targeted 10 times in Week 1 against the Falcons, who threw every coverage against him that they have.
“Typically, they play one coverage and do their thing,” Ertz said. “But they mixed it up a lot. They doubled, they bracketed and they were chipping me at the line of scrimmage. They were playing two-man, which they rarely play.
“I don’t think I’ve ever dropped that many balls in a game in my life.”
Darren Sproles also dropped a pass in the opener for the Eagles, who are in a five-way tie for the league lead in that dubious department.
The Buccaneers, who Ertz and the Eagles oppose Sunday at Raymond James Stadium, don’t have any drops.
Ertz has more receptions (321) and receiving yards (3,664) in his first five seasons than any previous Eagles tight end. He’s coming off his first Pro Bowl season, his 72 catches ranking behind only Travis Kelce (83) and Jack Doyle (80) at the tight end position in 2017.
With 3,712 receiving yards, Ertz is 79 from passing Brian Westbrook for 13th on the Eagles’ alltime list. Ertz needs 129 receiving yards to pass Calvin Williams for 12th-most in franchise history.
••• Sproles (hamstring) and wide receiver Shelton Gibson (knee) were held out of practice Thursday due to injuries.
Quarterback Carson Wentz (knee) and wide receiver Alshon Jeffery (shoulder) were listed as limited on the official injury report.
The Buccaneers are banged-up, too, although wide receiver DeSean Jackson (concussion, shoulder) returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday.
Also limited was guard Caleb Benenoch (knee) and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul (knee) and tackle Donovan Smith (knee).
The Bucs’ best cornerback, Brent Grimes (groin) and defensive tackle Vita Vea (calf), the team’s top draft pick this year, did not practice.
The Bucs previously lost cornerback Vernon Hargreaves to a season-ending shoulder injury.
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Eagles quarterback Nate Sudfeld grew up across the street from Bryson DeChambeau, who played in the BMW Championship last week at Aronimink.
They both lived on the second floor of their respective residences and were known to shout challenges across the street.
“We both hated to lose at anything we played,” Sudfeld said. “He moved away in fourth grade but we’re still close.”
DeChambeau shot 12-under to finish in a tie for 19th at the BMW event. He has four PGA tour wins.
Eagles kicker Jake Elliott joined Sudfeld at Aronimink.
“I just sat at 18 and watched all of them come through,” Elliott said. “I met Nate over there. He grew up with Bryson and they’re still good buddies.”
•••
There are five quarterbacks on the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot. Randall Cunningham, Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb played for the Eagles.
The others are Dave Krieg, who started with the Seahawks and the late Steve McNair, who led the Titans to a Super Bowl.
Others who played for the Eagles and are on the ballot are Seth Joyner, Herschel Walker, Ricky Watters, Eric Allen, Troy Vincent, Jeff Feagles, Sean Landeta, Takeo Spikes and Brian Mitchell.
Dick Vermeil is on the Hall of Fame ballot for coaches.
•••
Eagles quarterback Nick Foles is 131 passing yards short of
10,000 in his career.
Foles needs 91 to pass the late Norm Van Brocklin (7,497 yards from 1958-60) for ninth in Eagles history.