On December 7, Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz was visibly emotional as he was carted off the field following a serious knee injury during a game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the severity of the situation on Monday, revealing that Ertz, 35, had torn his ACL, effectively ending his 2025 season. With the tight end set to become a free agent at season's end, this injury could potentially mark the conclusion of his career as a three-time Pro Bowler.
Quinn expressed the team's collective disappointment, stating, “He has meant a lot to our team, both on and off the field. He’s been an ideal teammate to help set a standard about habits, and so we’re all bummed for him.”
The injury occurred in the third quarter of the Commanders' 31-0 defeat, when Ertz attempted to catch a pass and collided with Vikings safety Jay Ward. The impact caused Ertz to fall awkwardly, immediately clutching his knee in pain.
As he was being taken off the field, cameras captured Ertz in tears, with teammate Marcus Mariota offering support during the distressing moment.
“I ain’t going to lie; it was tough for everybody,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin remarked post-game. “He’s one of the linchpins of our team.”
Tight end John Bates added, “It breaks my heart when you see a great one like him, an all-time great [get hurt].”
The incident sparked controversy, with fans and analysts criticizing Ward for what they deemed a dirty hit. As of Monday afternoon, the NFL had not issued any disciplinary action against Ward.
In defense of his player, Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell stated there was “no bad intent” behind the collision. “The unique thing about that is it wasn’t like Zach’s foot was planted on the ground,” O’Connell explained. “He left the ground to make a play and was still in the air when that collision happened.”
O’Connell further elaborated on the nature of the game, emphasizing its speed and violence. “It’s easy to play it back and slo-mo it and start to develop hypotheses on things,” he said. “But the game is happening very, very fast. I always encourage people to take in just how violent and fast the game is because you just hate seeing stuff like that.”
Despite being in his mid-30s, Ertz had proven to be a reliable asset for the Commanders, having not missed a start since joining the team in 2024. His 30 combined games over the past two seasons represent his most active stretch since 2018-19.
