The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
With Ertz ailing, Eagles brings Rodgers back to the neighborhood
With Zach Ertz ailing, the Eagles brought back tight end Richard Rodgers.
The Eagles reached an injury settlement with Rodgers before the season due to a Lisfranc injury. Healthy again, he adds veteran experience at tight end.
Ertz has cracked ribs. His availability is in question Sunday when the Eagles try to clinch a playoff berth with a victory over the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Rodgers (6-foot-4, 257 pounds) knows the Philly offense. He played seven games for the Eagles in 2018 after spending four years with the Green Bay Packers, where he was Aaron Rodgers’ celebrated
Hail Mary target.
“There is familiarity there,” offensive coordinator Mike Groh said of the Eagles’ latest skill position fill-in player. “He knows our system, (our) terminology. It’s just kind of getting re-acclimated. Obviously putting on pads and playing football is a lot different than what he’s been doing. Regardless of how much he’s been thinking about playing, we still have to get him out there.
“Rich is very dependable, he’s conscientious and we know he’ll do a good job.”
The Eagles signed Rodgers to a two-year contract late last March and he spent the offseason in the program. But he suffered the foot injury in training camp and was released Sept. 11.
Ertz suffered the rib fracture stretching to catch a high, off-target throw from Carson Wentz in the Eagles’ 17-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. It was a clean hit by safety Xavier Woods. Ertz returned to the game and played 59 total snaps. His availability hinges on how much pain he can handle.
Ertz has 525 receptions since entering the NFL in 2013, the most by a tight end in his first seven seasons. Cowboys legend Jason Witten, who was in the game Sunday, previously held the mark with 523 catches.
With wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside nursing a foot injury, the Eagles also signed wide receiver Deontay Burnett off the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
“I think he has really good body control, tracks the ball