The hits keep coming for the Eagles. First, the team endured a tough 17-11 loss to the San Francisco 49ers Sunday.
A day later, the team learned that beloved defensive end Brandon Graham and starting right guard Brandon Brooks were added to the injured reserve list after both sustained injuries in the second quarter of the game.
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Now, the Eagles must monitor one of their best offensive players to see if they will be available to play in their Week 3 Monday Night Football matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles announced Monday that tight end Zach Ertz was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. The three-time Pro Bowl tight end, who has three catches for 40 yards this season, tested positive for the virus, but was vaccinated, according to NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero.
According to the COVID policy that is in place for the 2021 season, Ertz can return to the NovaCare Complex to practice if he remains asymptomatic and has two negative COVID tests in a span of 24 hours. Had Ertz been unvaccinated, he would have been facing a 10-day isolation period.
If there is a silver lining to the situation, it is that Ertz’s diagnosis came early in a week where the Eagles play on Monday, giving the team an extra day to prepare for the game and additional time for Ertz to produce negative tests.
In the event Ertz does show symptoms and has to miss Monday night’s game, the Eagles still have Dallas Goedert at the tight end position. Goedert, who has started the last two games, has six catches for 66 yards and a touchdown this season. Goedert, a free agent at the end of the season, is also tied for third on the team with targets (7).
The biggest change may come to what the Eagles do with their formations. The Eagles typically use three wide receivers and one tight end, otherwise known as “11” personnel. However, they have used “12” personnel, meaning they have Ertz and Goddard on the field simultaneously, 29% of their offensive snaps, according to Sharp Football Stats.
The Eagles have also shown a package that includes three tight ends, adding rookie Jack Stoll in the personnel grouping. The team has used that formation around the goal line.
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.
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