Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz Greg Fiume/GettyImages

Is Zach Ertz playing today? Full injury update for Commanders TE in Week 7

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Oct 19, 2025 6:00 AM ET

To say the Washington Commanders are in the midst of an injury crisis before Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys would be an understatement. And there is no doubt that Kliff Kingsbury's offense has been hardest hit.

The play-caller's options have been decimated, which began with veteran running back Austin Ekeler being ruled out for their entire campaign after suffering a torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. Noah Brown also got hurt in the same game and hasn't been seen since, leaving the Commanders with no option other than to place him on injured reserve this week.

Head coach Dan Quinn was initially optimistic about the status of wide receiver Terry McLaurin to begin the week. It didn't take long for that to diminish, with the second-team All-Pro barely doing anything in practice before being officially ruled out for the fourth-straight contest.

If that wasn't bad enough, the Commanders will also be without Deebo Samuel Sr. at AT&T Stadium. He's currently dealing with a heel problem, which is causing severe discomfort. Although he's been toughing it out, his limitations against the Chicago Bears were evident, and those in power have now determined that some rest is needed.

Commanders are expected to have Zach Ertz available in Week 7 against the Cowboys

Zach Ertz, the productive veteran tight end who could be lined up for a heavy workload with so many influential pass-catchers missing, was listed as questionable for Week 7. He's currently navigating shoulder and calf problems, so fans were anxiously awaiting developments with the three-time Pro Bowler.

For once, there was a positive development. Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network revealed that despite Ertz's uncertain status, the former Stanford standout traveled to Dallas and is expected to play through the pain barrier.

#Commanders TE Zach Ertz (shoulder/calf) is listed as questionable and he is expected to play Sunday, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2025

While this is good news, it'll still be worth keeping an eye on Ertz over the opening exchanges. He's obviously not at 100 percent, and he isn't getting any younger. Any slight ailments have the scope to be detrimental to his typically consistent performance levels. The fact that he is dealing with two issues only heightens the risk.

The Commanders don't have much choice right now. They have three healthy wide receivers on the roster. They called up Robbie Chosen from the practice squad, but how much he'll be able to contribute is another matter.

It's not ideal, and it's stretching Washington's offense options right to the limit. Hopefully, Ertz can rely on the adrenaline to get him through en route to becoming the dependable option over short-to-intermediate areas and in the red zone.

Anything less, and the Commanders could have a big problem on their hands.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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