It’s not what anyone wants to see on a football field — and a play that should draw a significant fine from the NFL for Minnesota Vikings safety Jay Ward.
Ward appeared to destroy the right knee of Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz on an unnecessary low hit in a 31-0 win by the Vikings in Week 14.
“This is a dirty hit by Jay Ward that has left Zach Ertz down on the field and needing assistance from the trainers to leave the field,” Commanders reporter Chad Ryan wrote on X. “No place for this on the football field. Disgusting play.”
The Commanders’ eight consecutive loss dropped them to 3-10 overall and eliminated them from the playoffs with 4 regular season games remaining.
Ertz, who is playing on a 1-year, $6.25 million contract, has experienced a career resurgence in Washington . The 35-year-old won a Super Bowl and was a 3-time Pro Bowler with the Philadelphia Eagles but seemed headed out of the league after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals in 2023.
In 2024 Ertz finished second on the team in receiving with 66 receptions for 654 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Commanders went 12-5 in the regular season and advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
Ertz entered Week 14 against the Vikings second on the team with 49 receptions for 493 yards and 4 touchdowns.
“Zach Ertz didn’t deserve to go out like this,” X user Premiere Vee wrote. “Absolutely brutal way to end a career if he doesn’t get to play another down of football.”
Ertz’s Long Career Could Be Coming to End
Social media was quick to point out Ertz’s 13 seasons in the NFL may have come to an end with the hit by Ward.
Ertz has the fifth most receptions by a tight end in NFL history. He also had one of the greatest single seasons for a tight end in NFL history in 2018 when he set the NFL single season record for tight ends with 116 receptions for 1,163 yards and 8 touchdowns.
“Commanders fans are calling for the NFL to SUSPEND Vikings DB Jay Ward for his gruesome hit on Zach Ertz,” ML Football wrote on its official X account. “Ward put his head down and went full force into Ertz’s knees, completely wiping him out. Ertz may never play again after this injury.”
“Zach Ertz is as good of a human being as there is in this league,” The Athletic’s James Palmer wrote on his official X account. “Heartbreaking.”
Commanders Drafted Kansas State TE in 2024
Ertz’s injury likely forces the Commanders to finally see what they have in second year tight end Ben Sinnott , a second round pick out of Kansas State in the 2024 NFL draft.
Sinnott, 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, has spent the last 2 seasons buried on the depth chart behind Ertz and John Bates , arguably the NFL’s best blocking tight end.
Through 2 seasons and 28 career games, Sinnott has just 8 receptions for 61 yards and 2 touchdowns. He’s played in just 25 percent of Washington’s snaps on offense this season.
“Ben Sinnott needs to show up and show out now,” Hogs Haven’s Ken Johannesen wrote on his official X account. “It’s his time.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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