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Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz suffered a potentially career-ending injury in a Dec. 7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
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In the third quarter, Vikings safety Jay Ward hit Ertz’s leg directly as the tight end passed the ball in the air.
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Receiver Terry McLaurin says seeing teammates take hits is ‘tough for all of us’
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz was visibly emotional after suffering a leg injury that could end his career.
Ertz, 35, suffered a hard hit late in the third quarter of Washington’s game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 7. Ertz was in the air preparing to pass when Vikings safety Jay Ward hit his leg, causing him to fall hard to the field.
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Medics quickly attended to Ertz, who needed to be helped to the sideline after suffering the injury. The tight end put a towel over his head and cried as trainers put him on a cart back to the locker room.
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota appeared by his teammates’ side to comfort an emotional Ertz before play resumed.
After the Commanders lost badly and allowed 0 points in 31 games against the Vikings, head coach Dan Quinn said “early indications are that his veteran tight end is seriously injured,” per ESPN, and fans were concerned he wouldn’t return to the NFL after the injury.
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“This guy is a great competitor in every aspect,” Quinn said of Ertz, according to ESPN. “Seeing the frustration and the emotion, it’s something that all of us share,” he added.
Alan Schmidt/Getty
Zach Ertz injured Dec. 7, 2025
Quinn told the media that Ertz will undergo leg imaging on Monday. ESPN Commander reporter John Keim reported that the team is concerned about Ertz suffering a torn ACL.
According to ESPN , receiver Terry McLaurin spoke to reporters about Ertz’s injury after the game, saying, “I’m not going to lie; it’s been tough on everybody.”
“He’s one of the key guys on our team,” McLaurin added when discussing his teammate.
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According to ESPN, Commander tight end John Bates told the media: “When you see a great player like him, it breaks my heart. He is an all-time great player. [get hurt]”.
Bates said Ertz was “a professional’s professional” and “did everything the right way, the way it should be done.”
One fan on X said the collision between Ertz and Ward was “the worst blow I’ve ever seen,” while another called it “brutal.”
Read the original article on People