The Philadelphia Eagles elevated tight end Zach Ertz to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams as the team navigates a wave of injuries that have sidelined several top contributors.
Depth moves driven by multiple absences
The Eagles announced the elevation of Ertz for the matchup, marking his second straight week on the active roster as Philadelphia tries to patch an offense missing multiple starters. The team has ruled out six players for the game, among them Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith, Zack Baun and Marcus Epps. The Eagles also noted that DeVonta Smith and Hollywood Brown will not be available in the outside receiver group, and Goedert’s absence removes the team’s primary tight end from the rotation.
With those pieces unavailable, the elevation of Ertz is part of a short-term plan to add experienced options to the offense. The move was one of two standard elevations the Eagles executed for the Week 4 game; tight end Josiah Deguara also was elevated.
What Ertz brings and how the Eagles plan to use him
Yahoo! News reported the elevations of Ertz and Deguara were standard elevations from the practice squad and that both players will return to the practice squad after Sunday’s game unless the Eagles make another roster move. The outlet added that the moves signal Philadelphia seeks additional flexibility rather than expecting one player to replace Goedert’s full role.
According to Yahoo! News, Ertz made his season debut in Monday night’s 27-7 loss to the Chicago Bears, playing 19 offensive snaps and recording his first reception as an Eagle since being traded away in 2021. That appearance gives Ertz a platform to take on a larger role while Goedert recovers from a knee injury.
Yahoo! News also detailed how Ertz’s familiarity with Jalen Hurts — the two were teammates during Hurts’ first two NFL seasons — could be valuable in short-area passing concepts. Ertz’s experience as a route runner and his feel for spacing and zone coverage were cited as potential assets on third down and in goal-line situations, while Deguara was described as offering in-line blocking, H-back versatility and special-teams value.
The additions give offensive coordinator Sean Mannion more options for multiple-tight-end personnel packages. Yahoo! News noted the pair could help the Eagles both in the passing game and in heavier formations built to protect the offense and support the running game, including looks that feature Saquon Barkley as the focal point.
Rams matchup and broader context
The Eagles will face a Los Angeles Rams team that, like Philadelphia, has been dealing with roster disruption. Sports Illustrated projected the stakes for the Rams in a broader season context, suggesting a loss could have notable consequences for Los Angeles’ standing and projecting the team’s need to stabilize amid absences. Those projections underscore how both clubs are seeking a quality victory while trying to settle personnel questions.
For Philadelphia, the immediate goal is more modest: supplement an offense missing key targets and provide Jalen Hurts with reliable options at tight end and in intermediate passing situations. Elevating Ertz — a veteran route runner with prior chemistry with Hurts — is a clear bid to do that while the team manages short-term injuries.
Sunday will offer Ertz another opportunity to show whether he can handle an expanded role in-game-plan situations the Eagles must navigate while Dallas Goedert, DeVonta Smith and others recover. The team’s roster moves this week make plain that Philadelphia is prioritizing flexibility and complementary skill sets rather than searching for a single, like-for-like replacement.
