The Washington Commanders‘ season has taken another turn, but for the worse. Not only did they suffer a brutal 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, but they also lost one of their key offensive weapons. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the news on Monday that veteran tight end Zach Ertz has torn his ACL in his right knee, as messages of support and prayers poured in from the NFL community.

Despite the severity of the injury, Ertz is showing a fighting spirit. He took to his Instagram to share a simple, powerful message: 

“Broken But Never Beaten.”

The injury happened in the third quarter when Ertz, trying to haul in a high pass from quarterback Marcus Mariota, leaped for the ball. As he was airborne, Vikings safety Jay Ward came in and undercut him with a hit directly to the knee. The collision bent Ertz’s knee to about 45 degrees and flipped him in midair. It was immediately clear that the injury was serious, and he had to be carted off the field at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Ertz, who is in his 13th NFL season, was having a respectable year with the Commanders, posting 50 receptions for 504 yards and four touchdowns. This injury, coming late in the season, is particularly tough for Ertz because he’s on a one-year contract. Given his age and the lengthy recovery time for a torn ACL, there are legitimate questions about his NFL future.

If this is, in fact, the end of his career, Ertz will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the best tight ends to ever play the game. His 825 career receptions place him No. 5 all-time among NFL tight ends.

Zach Ertz’s post gets prayers and support from other NFL players

Zach Ertz has solidified his legacy as one of the most productive tight ends of his generation. Over a distinguished 13-season career, split across the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, and Arizona Cardinals, Ertz compiled impressive statistics: 825 receptions for 8,527 yards and 57 touchdowns.

Ertz’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles was marked by individual excellence and a championship moment. He earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2017 to 2019. His most memorable contribution came in Super Bowl LII, where he was instrumental in the Eagles’ victory over the New England Patriots. In that championship performance, Ertz tallied seven catches for 67 yards, including the crucial game-winning touchdown reception.

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However, by 2020, Ertz’s role began to diminish due to injuries and the emergence of fellow tight end Dallas Goedert. Six games into the 2021 season, the Eagles traded the veteran to the Arizona Cardinals, where he spent the next three seasons, before signing his contract with the Washington Commanders in 2024. News of Ertz’s injury drew an outpouring of support from former teammates and figures across the NFL landscape.

Eagles’ Defensive End, Brandon Graham, wrote, “Amen!! Keep going, my brother!! He is going to bring you back stronger!” While former Texans star JJ Watt commented, “Never brother Never.”

Dalton Schultz, a tight end for the Texans, posted a goat emoji.

Ertz, as a player, was a vital offensive weapon for the Commanders, catching 66 passes for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. His contributions were key in helping Washington reach the NFC Championship Game, where he had a stellar performance with 11 catches for 104 yards in a losing effort against his former team, the Eagles.

Jonathan Allen, a defensive player for the Vikings, wrote, “Praying for you, brother.”

Erin Andrews, the sports commentator, posted hand-raised emojis.

The loss of Ertz, who is now dealing with an injury in the 2025 season, compounds a series of devastating setbacks for the Commanders and for the player himself, as his future with the team before his contract ends seems bleak for the season.

As for the team, the Commanders’ playoff hopes are over as they’re out, just like the New York Giants, whom they play on December 14th. Even though this first game doesn’t matter for the playoffs, it’s still a big deal because it’s a fight between two division rivals.

After that, the schedule gets brutal. Washington has to play the Eagles and the Cowboys, and those two teams are battling to win the division. It’s going to be really tough for the Commanders to win all four remaining games. But if they can just play hard and make those games close, it will show they have something good to build on for the 2026 season.