Tag: Zach Ertz

NFL explains why Zach Ertz catch was not a touchdown

The NFL explains the Zach Ertz call.

The Washington Commanders defeated the Chicago Bears 18-15 on Sunday in one of the most thrilling NFL finishes in years. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ Hail Mary into the end zone landed in the waiting arms of Noah Brown to give Washington the shocking win.

While Chicago fans will lament blowing the game on the Hail Mary, the Commanders had several opportunities to put the game away long before the fourth quarter.

Up 6-0 with over five minutes remaining in the first half, Daniels found tight end Zach Ertz in the front corner of the end zone for the game’s first touchdown. However, officials ruled it incomplete. The Commanders challenged the ball but lost.

Judge for yourself:

If they had ruled it complete on the field, this was one of those calls that probably remained a touchdown. After the game, Nicki Jhabvala asked NFL Vice President of Instant Replay Mark Butterworth about the controversial call.

“The ruling on the field was an incomplete pass,” Butterworth said. “After the challenge flag was thrown, for us to overturn it, we needed clear and obvious video evidence that he actually had control of the ball before it hit the ground. When the ball came to the ground, we had hand separation off of the ball, therefore it’s an incomplete pass.”

He provided further clarification.

“There were two different angles used, and he didn’t have his hand completely under the ball,” Butterworth replied. “And then you look at right after the hand and ball had contact with the ground, his hands were off the ball momentarily.”

The NFL created this problem, and fans have been confused ever since. It’s not just fans, but players and coaches have admitted over the years they aren’t even sure what a catch is anymore. By the current rules, the NFL probably got it right, at least sticking by its initial call. However, if it were ruled a touchdown, things would’ve been much more interesting.

 

Commanders TE Zach Ertz: ‘I can’t say enough good things’

Zach Ertz with high praise for the Commanders’ leadership.

Many questioned the Washington Commanders’ decision to sign veteran tight end Zach Ertz in March. What could a soon-to-be 34-year-old tight end who hadn’t played a full season since 2018 offer the rebuilding Commanders?

Like everything else they’ve done since general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn took over, there was a plan. Not only was Ertz familiar with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, but he was also a strong presence in the locker room, and Washington envisioned him becoming an offensive leader who could develop some of the young players while still starting.

So far, so good. Teammates have raved about Ertz’s leadership, as have coaches. On the field, he’s been a security blanket for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Through seven games, Ertz has 25 receptions for 268 yards and a touchdown.

Ertz spent the first 8.5 years of his NFL career with Washington’s NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time with the Eagles, the Commanders were owned by Daniel Snyder and had a poor reputation around the league.

Not anymore. Every time Ertz speaks of Washington’s leadership, he talks of how close the locker room is and how special this coaching staff is. On Wednesday, Ertz joined the NFL Network to talk about the Commanders’ impressive turnaround.

“Coach Quinn is one of, if not the best, leaders I’ve ever been around,” Ertz said. “Just his ability to connect with each and every person on the roster to get the most out of them. He does it in a phenomenal way by just bringing a lot of energy, demanding that standards are upheld, and making those standards extremely clear. And if guys aren’t meeting the standards, he’s very consistent with his message that it’s not good enough and we have to be better………he wants the best for every person in this organization.”

Ertz then delivered a line that seems consistent under new owner Josh Harris, Peters and Quinn.

“You don’t just show up on Sundays and expect good things to happen,” Ertz said. “The wins are earned throughout the week. They’ve brought in guys that love the process, that love to practice. These are my types of guys. I’ve had so much fun since I’ve gotten here. Everyone is just all about trying to get better each and every day. I can’t say enough good things about this place.”

Guess what? He’s telling the truth. Times have changed in Washington, and adding veterans like Ertz and linebacker Bobby Wagner was critical in changing the franchise’s culture.

Commanders TE Ben Sinnott’s first touchdown will be the first of many

Ben Sinnott scored his first NFL touchdown on Sunday. Get used to it.

In the Washington Commanders’ 40-7 rout of the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, rookie tight end Ben Sinnott caught his first NFL pass — a touchdown.

Sinnott played 30% of the offensive snaps entering Sunday’s game but was featured as more of a blocker in Washington’s top-five running game. Sinnott’s time was coming, but regardless of his impact on the stat sheet, he was making a significant impact on the offense.

Sinnott has served as Washington’s No. 2 or No. 3 tight end behind Zach Ertz and, sometimes, John Bates. The longtime veteran Ertz is the unquestioned starter, while Bates is one of the NFL’s top blocking tight ends.

The Commanders entered the offseason with a plan for rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. Regardless of the outside noise, they didn’t deviate from that plan, and Daniels is already one of the NFL’s top young quarterbacks.

While it wasn’t discussed much, the Commanders also had a plan for Sinnott. The plan was for Ertz to play while also mentoring younger players, such as Daniels and Sinnott. Washington players and coaches have praised Ertz for his leadership. However, the plan for Sinnott was to slowly incorporate him into the offense. While Ertz remains Washington’s starting tight end, Daniels now has another weapon defenses must account for weekly.

“It’s pretty cool to have your first NFL catch be a touchdown,” Sinnott said after the game.

Sinnott will likely score many more touchdowns. Ertz is on a one-year deal that could be extended if he remains healthy. Regardless, Sinnott is a significant part of Washington’s future.

Jim Nagy, executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl and a former NFL scout, sees big things in Sinnott’s future.

Everything the Commanders are doing is working for the first time in a long time. It is, indeed, a new day in Washington.

What everyone said after the Commanders’ Week 7 rout of Panthers

Here’s what everyone said after the Commanders’ blowout win over the Panthers.

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders were much better than the Carolina Panthers, running away from them in a 40-7 rout. Here is a collection of postgame quotes from players, analysts, coaches, and media personalities.

Craig Hoffman

“Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? Well, maybe. The score, that was fun. But, a big ‘but’ with the Jayden Daniels injury.”

“Dante Fowler gets that pick-6 and I was literally like, ‘I can throw my not pad away.’ There was no point in the notes of this game. The game ended right there. Because from that point, Carolina was going to be chasing the game.”

Danny Rouhier

“I’m happy but there is also something missing, you know?”

“I don’t feel euphoric here after a blowout win. We usually tell people to smell the roses because they don’t come around all that often. Taking advantage of a bad opponent, you don’t apologize for who is on your schedule. You handle them the way Washington just did.”

Marcus Mariota

“When you have a brotherhood like this, you’ll find ways to win.”

“Obviously, it’s going to take some time, whatever it is. We have no idea, but I think he was in good spirits. You check on him, see how he is doing. And then we will take it day to day.”

Austin Ekeler

“He’s (Mariota) been a great leader for us, and he went out there and showed it again.”

Zach Ertz

“Obviously my first thought was just concerned about him (Jayden Daniels). He’s the leader of our team essentially and he’s a phenomenal player. He’s going to be a great player for a long time, and he’s really a good friend of mine. I was obviously just worried about him. From there, you just gotta get back out there and play.”

“We got a lot of confidence in Marcus. They didn’t bring him here just to be a backup. They brought him in here to compete with Jayden obviously. We got a lot of confidence in Marcus.”

Dan Quinn

“The message for this week was, ‘Can we get stronger’? We knew there was another gear for us to find. We had to dig for it and find it. I was pleased to see the fight in the guys. I thought Dante’s touchdown was really the thing that set it off.”

“I cannot give you an update on Jayden. I will just as soon as we find out. We’ll do some further tests tomorrow. Then, when we get together in the afternoon, we’ll give you an update.”

“You know what? I was really proud of Marcus (Mariota). It’s been a tough start, IR and getting an injury. For him to come back and see that kind of poise in the game, there was no flinch.”

“I look back to see post-practice to see who is out there working, and he and the guys are going through the script. I tip my hat to he and Tavita, David Blough and others that are spending that extra time. So, if your moment gets called you are ready to deliver for the team. I  think that is a really powerful thing.”

Sam Fortier

“Dan Quinn said he didn’t have an update, said he would have one Monday. His (Daniels) status going forward is the biggest thing for this organization.”

“The offense kept rolling without him (Daniels). Kliff Kingsbury was cooking. The Panthers defense was very depleted…”

“They (Commanders) are demolishing bad teams. Yes, the five teams they have beaten so far have a combined record of 9-25. But it is still the NFL. I think it says something when you are taking care of business to this degree.”

 

Commanders TE Zach Ertz calls it a ‘disservice’ to compare Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson

Commanders TE Zach Ertz calls it a ‘disservice’ to compare Jayden Daniels and Lamar Jackson

NFL fans and media cannot resist comparing quarterbacks, especially those of the athletic dual-threat variety. Michael Vick served as the measuring stick for dual-threat signal callers entering the NFL for the longest time, but that has now shifted to the two-time MVP Lamar Jackson.

The latest to draw comparisons to Jackson has been rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Washington Commanders appear to have finally hit on a quarterback with the second pick in the draft, as the LSU signal star has been nothing short of sensational through the first five games of his NFL career. Daniels was most recently named the Pepsi Zero Sugar Rookie of the Week for his performance against the Cleveland Browns in Week 5. Daniels has won the award in only one week so far this season.

Veteran tight end Zach Ertz was asked about his rookie quarterback being compared to Jackson ahead of the Commanders’ anticipated matchup with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6.

“It’s tough to compare anyone to Lamar,” Ertz said. “He’s a two-time MVP— one of the best players in the league for a very long time. Jayden just had his fifth game in the league. We got all the confidence in the world that he’s gonna be in that conversation for a long time, but I think it’s a disservice to both players, honestly. I can’t speak highly enough of [Lamar]. I can’t speak highly enough of Jayden as well, but it’s still so early in his career and it’s about continued success in this league.”

The quarterbacks have helmed two of the league’s best offenses so far this season and will clash on Sunday in the latest edition of the “Battle of the Beltway.”

Commanders injury report: Ertz, Newton do not practice on Wednesday

The first injury report of the week is here.

The Washington Commanders returned to the practice field on Wednesday to begin preparations for their Week 2 game against the New York Giants. It’s the home opener for the Commanders and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The two longtime rivals both suffered double-digit defeats in Week 1 and look to get on track in Week 2.

Two players did not practice on Wednesday. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz received a rest day, while rookie defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton missed practice again but is nearing a return, according to head coach Dan Quinn.

“We pushed it hard with him, conditioning yesterday, hold today, but we wanted the padded day for him tomorrow,” Quinn said of Newton. “We’re trending in the right way, much like we were talking about with Noah. We’ll kind of have a better sense for when we get to Friday, but he’s definitely trending in the right spot.”

It would be good news for the Commanders to have Newton back. He missed the entire preseason and Week 1.

Here is Washington’s full injury report from Wednesday:

Did not participate: TE Zach Ertz (NIR/rest), DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot/NIR)

Limited participants: S Tyler Owens (ankle)

Full participants: OT Brandon Coleman (shoulder), CB Emmanuel Forbes (thumb), RB Brian Robinson Jr. (knee), OT Trent Scott (knee)

WATCH: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels drops a dime to TE Zach Ertz

Daniels throws a dime to Ertz and they celebrate afterward.

Veteran tight end Zach Ertz has praised Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels all summer. Ertz, who has played with multiple young quarterbacks throughout his 12-year NFL career, sees something special in Daniels.

“With Jayden, I think he’s going to be really good, and I don’t think it’s going to take very long,” Ertz said on “The Pivot” podcast earlier this month. “But he’s also coming into this thing, and they don’t want to overload him. Obviously, the physical tools stand out; you don’t get drafted No. 2 overall if you don’t have the physical traits, but his ability to be intentional with everything that he does. He works extremely hard.”

Ertz is expected to be a significant part of Washington’s offense this season, and he and Daniels have already formed a strong connection on the field.

During practice this week, Daniels and Ertz showed their chemistry, with the rookie quarterback throwing a dime to the veteran.

Check it out:

The Commanders host the Patriots in Sunday’s preseason finale, but Daniels and Ertz will not play.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn says two positions are sticking out ahead of cutdown day

Quinn says two positions have been harder to evaluate.

How many spots on the 53-man roster are up for grabs heading into the Washington Commanders’ final preseason game on Sunday vs. New England?

Will the Commanders keep three quarterbacks? Or will they keep 10 offensive linemen? What about six cornerbacks, seven wide receivers, or four tight ends?

General manager Adam Peters faces some difficult decisions before next week’s deadline for final cuts. A few positions will likely come down to Sunday’s game against the Patriots.

What is head coach Dan Quinn thinking about cutdown day?

“This may sound unusual, but we’re really looking for consistency because sometimes when a person can be into this spot or a ball player, they could press to really want to show out, or I wanna make this play, I wanna do something to stand out,” Quinn said Wednesday. “And so being tighter doesn’t allow you to play better. It just can make you a little tighter and more anxious about the play. So we’re really trying to make sure we’re staying into the flow of how we do things, and there may be some higher reps on a special teams portion or lower and higher on offense or defense.”

Quinn was asked if any position groups were standing out above others.

“I thought two of the groups that have really stood out to me, just been consistent and deep are at safety and at tight end, and just the practice habits, the willingness to go for their battles on special teams,” Quinn said. “So those have been two that have stood out to me of consistently high-level effort, guys supporting one another. And so that’s what you want as a coach where there’s really challenging spots and guys really pushing it. And I’d say those are two of the positions that that jump out to me.”

Let’s start with tight end. Three players are roster locks: Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott and John Bates. Will the Commanders keep a fourth tight end? If so, that’s good news for third-year TE Cole Turner. Turner has had a solid camp but hasn’t flashed in the preseason games.

As for safety, Quan Martin and Jeremy Chinn are locks. Jeremy Reaves is close to a lock, with Percy Butler and Darrick Forrest also in the mix. Butler appears to be Washington’s top backup at free safety, while Forrest, who had a breakout season two years ago, has battled an injury this summer.

Undrafted rookie Tyler Owens is the wild card. Owens has all the physical attributes and has shined throughout training camp and in both preseason games. He’s made the safety battle much more enjoyable. And as much as Quinn has discussed him, it’s difficult to see the Commanders moving on from him next week.

Fantasy football outlook: Washington Commanders tight ends

Will youth upside or veteran steadiness win out in Washington?

There’s an NFL adage that a tight end is a young quarterback’s best friend. They can serve not only as a protector in blocking but run shorter routes and settle in soft spots in zones to create an easy receiving target.

The Washington Commanders are starting a new era with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and made a pair of tight end moves to give him a position upgrade, signing free agent Zach Ertz and drafting Ben Sinnott in the second round.

Fantasy football: Commanders TE Ben Sinnott a sleeper in 2024

Could Commanders rookie TE Ben Sinnott be a fantasy sleeper in 2024?

Washington Commanders rookie tight end Ben Sinnott has been quiet during his first training camp. Please don’t mistake that, for he’s had a bad training camp. He hasn’t. Through the first two weeks, veteran starter Zach Ertz has handled the majority of snaps as Sinnott gets acclimated to the NFL game.

In fantasy football terms, if you’re looking for tight end help from the Commanders, Ertz is probably your guy. The 33-year-old looks rejuvenated after reuniting with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

Tight end production isn’t always easy to find in the NFL. Not every team has a tight end who puts up big numbers. So, if you’re playing a league that starts two tight ends, you could be searching high and low for some sneaky production.

Enter Sinnott.

The Commanders spent the No. 53 overall pick on the former Kansas State star. Sinnott was KSU’s best player, and he’s big, athletic and versatile. One of the reasons why Washington liked Sinnott was because he was a willing blocker, but it could move him across the formation. So, if Ertz is the only tight end on the field, Sinnott could play some fullback or H-Back.

Sinnott will see the field in 2024, and that playing time could increase throughout the season.

NFL.com recently looked at 10 fantasy sleepers at tight end, and Sinnott came in at No. 10.

Projected draft position: Round 17 (TE23)

A second rookie tight end? Have I lost my mind? Maybe, but see my comment about rookies in the Brock Bowers section and then take a gander at Ben Sinnott’s profile. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound athlete out of Kansas State exceeded draft expectations with his Round 2 selection, after turning in a stellar performance at the NFL combine that included a 40-inch vertical jump, a 10-foot-6-inch broad jump and a 6.82-second 3-cone drill.

General manager Adam Peters compared Sinnott to two 49ers: All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk and All-Pro tight end George Kittle. Peters was in San Francisco when the 49ers acquired both players.

Keep in mind that Ertz will be 34 in November. He’s dealt with injuries over the past two seasons, so if he can’t make it through the season healthy, Sinnott becomes even more valuable.