Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz faced a concerning moment on Sunday when he was carted off the field following a low hit from Minnesota Vikings defensive back Jay Ward.
Ertz, 35, leaped to catch a pass during the third quarter. Unfortunately, the ball slipped through his fingers just as Ward delivered a low hit, colliding with either Ertz’s quadriceps or knee. The impact forced Ertz’s knee to bend in an alarming manner.
After rolling off Ward’s body, Ertz landed on his back. As Vikings defender Blake Cashman attempted to dive toward him, he somersaulted between Ertz’s legs, hitting the ground. Both Ward and Cashman quickly recovered, but Ertz remained down, visibly in pain. He needed assistance from the training staff to leave the field and was subsequently carted away.
This is a dirty hit by Jay Ward (#24 Vikings) that has left Zach Ertz down on the field and needing assistance from the trainers to leave the field.
No place for this on the football field. Disgusting play. pic.twitter.com/6eQcVQvDd7
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) December 7, 2025
After the team’s 31-0 defeat, head coach Dan Quinn discussed the injury with reporters. While he didn’t have all the details, he emphasized concern regarding Ertz’s ACL.
“Early signs indicate a significant injury for Zach Ertz,” the head coach stated. “It’s tough to see. Ertz is an incredible competitor, and we all share in that frustration and emotion. He’ll undergo imaging tomorrow, but I wanted to provide that update for you.”
Before the injury, the veteran tight end had managed to catch one pass for 11 yards on two targets, participating in 34 snaps.
Ertz wasn’t the only one dealing with injury woes during the game. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, returning from a dislocated left elbow, also left the field. After throwing an interception to linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, he fell hard, aggravating the same elbow injury. However, the team is optimistic about Daniels’ return against the Giants next weekend.
“He fell on his elbow, which was a question mark regarding his return. He could have come back, but I decided to hold him out. At the time, we were off and it felt like the right call,” Quinn explained regarding Daniels.
