Football

Banged-up Eagles tight end Zach Ertz after playoff loss: 'My God is a healer'

By Kevin Mercer Jan 7, 2020
Philadelphia Eagles' Zach Ertz, during the wild-card game, Jan. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

The Philadelphia Eagles fell 17-9 to the Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round of the NFC playoffs on Sunday in Philadelphia. It was a rough day offensively for the Eagles, who lost quarterback Carson Wentz after two series with a head injury and turned to backup veteran Josh McCown. The Seahawks’ defense held the Eagles without a touchdown in the win, while Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson passed for 325 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown pass to D.K. Metcalf.

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Eagles tight end Zach Ertz did all he could to help his team. Dealing with two fractured ribs and an injured kidney of his own, he fought through the pain to be on the field with his teammates, hauling in two receptions for 44 yards in the gutsy performance.

“The defense always has to account for me and so I knew if I could be out there, even if I wasn’t 100 percent, that the defense has to treat me like I am 100 percent,” Ertz told Sports Illustrated after the game. “I couldn’t look at myself or my teammates in the eye, knowing everything they have sacrificed over the months, if I was able to go and didn’t go. As long as everyone was good with it from a health standpoint, I wasn’t going to miss the game.”

Ertz said that he couldn’t even get out of bed by himself the day after Philadelphia’s Week 16 game against the Dallas Cowboys. The pain was too excruciating. Ertz missed Philadelphia’s Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants but was able to suit up against Seattle. After the game, Ertz credited God for his remarkably quick recovery.

“My God is a healer and He was the reason that I was able to play so fast,” he told reporters after the playoff game. “They said it was a remarkably fast healing, but I knew why I was able to play.”

Ertz has never been one to shy away from publicly speaking about Christ. During Super Bowl Media Day as the Eagles prepared to face the New England Patriots two seasons ago, Ertz was asked about his faith.

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“I always knew Jesus,” Ertz said. “I always knew who He was, but I didn’t have the relationship like I do now. Last year, I was going through some things during the season. I would always be really high if I had a great game and really low if we lost and I had a bad game. … I got baptized this past offseason in California before my wedding with my pastor who did the wedding, so last March is when I truly dedicated my life and it was the best thing that ever happened.”

With the offseason upon him, Ertz now directs his attention toward making a full recovery from his injuries before the start of the 2020 season.

Meanwhile, the NFL playoffs continue with four more contests this weekend. The Seahawks will travel to play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at 6:40 p.m. ET on FOX.

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