Eagles bring back tight end Richard Rodgers | What move could mean for Zach Ertz

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Eagles bring back tight end Richard Rodgers | What move could mean for Zach Ertz

 

Updated Jun 11, 2021; Posted Jun 11, 2021

The Philadelphia Eagles re-signed tight end Richard Rodgers on Friday.Tim Hawk | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

By Mike Kaye | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

 

The Eagles re-signed veteran tight end Richard Rodgers on Friday.

 

Rodgers, 29, spent the past three seasons bouncing on and off the Eagles’ roster. Last season, Rodgers had a strong campaign, collecting 24 catches for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers had a heavy workload last season, as starting tight ends Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz both suffered injuries.

 

With Rodgers, listed as 6-foot-4 and 257 pounds, back in the fold, the Eagles have an in-house replacement for the No. 2 tight end spot. With Goedert emerging as the top player at the position, and Ertz wanting out of town, the return of Rodgers could signal further movement on the depth chart.

 

Goedert and Rodgers could form a solid tandem, especially if the Eagles plan to focus more on three-receiver sets. With a decrease in multiple-tight end formations, the Eagles can get buy with Goedert as the starter, and Rodgers as his main backup.

 

Ertz, who skipped the entire offseason program in hopes of being traded, could now be viewed as expendable, especially as his departure would open up $8.5 million in salary-cap space. The Eagles had been holding onto Ertz in hopes of gaining a bigger returner in a trade. Perhaps, Rodgers’ return signals that a swap is close to coming together shortly.

 

Along with Goedert, Ertz and Rodgers, the Eagles have Caleb Wilson, Tyree Jackson, Jason Croom, Jack Stoll and Hakeem Butler at tight end. Wilson, Jackson, Croom, Stoll and Butler will all compete for the third tight end job if Ertz gets traded this summer.

 

Along with Rodgers’ return, the Eagles announced the signing of wide receiver Michael Walker. Walker appeared in seven games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 but was out of the league last season. He will compete during training camp to earn a roster spot.

https://www.nj.com/eagles/2021/06/eagles-bring-back-tight-end-richard-rodgers-what-move-could-mean-for-zach-ertz.html