It was a horror day for the Washington Commanders for several reasons, none moreso devastating than the gruesome injury to veteran tight end Zach Ertz.
Ertz is feared to have suffered a torn ACL in Washington’s 31-0 loss to Minnesota.
It could potentially be a career-ending blow for the 35-year-old who doesn’t have a contract beyond this season.
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Ertz was carted off the field after copping a brutal and dangerous hit to the knee from Vikings defensive back Jay Ward.
Ward lowered his head into Ertz’s knee as the tight end was jumping up to catch a pass, causing Ertz to flip over.
The tight end was visibly distraught on the sideline, captured by cameras sobbing with a towel over his head while being consoled by quarterback Marcus Mariota and wide receiver Deebo Samuel.
Ertz has enjoyed a glittering and lengthy career since being drafted by the Eagles in 2013.
A Super Bowl winner and three-time Pro Bowler, Ertz has hauled in 824 catches and 57 touchdowns throughout his 15-year career.
COMEBACK STAR’S BRUTAL INJURY BLOW
The sight of Daniel Jones collapsed on the field, reaching for his leg, looked all too painstakingly familiar.
Jones suffered a non-contact Achilles injury in his right leg – feared to be a rupture that will keep him out for this season and could carry over into 2026 – in the first half of the Colts’ first-place battle Sunday against the Jaguars.
It was just 25 months ago that Jones’ right leg gave out on him while he was back-pedaling in the pocket for the Giants against the Raiders. He suffered a torn ACL that ended his 2023 season.
Just like then, Jones was dealing with a pre-existing injury Sunday when the worst happened.
Jones, 28, was playing through a fractured fibula for the third straight week while wearing a hybrid thigh pad/shin guard on his left leg designed by one of his former Duke teammates. He planted that leg but went down in the pocket as he threw a pass.
The normally reserved Jones slammed his helmet into the ground repeatedly as trainers looked over his leg. He limped back to the locker room under his own power and was immediately ruled out for the game.
The injury comes at a devastating time for the Colts and for Jones.
The spiralling Colts turned to rookie Riley Leonard because backup quarterback Anthony Richardson – the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft who lost a pre-season battle to Jones – remains on injured reserve with an orbital fracture in his face. He has not been cleared for football-related activities.
After a 7-1 start, the Colts had lost three of their last four games entering the showdown with the Jaguars. Their grasp on a playoff spot is slipping away, which could put a spotlight on the jobs of head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard.
For Jones, the injury comes at a crossroads in his career.
After he was cut by the Giants and finished last season on the Vikings’ practice squad, Jones revitalised his career with the high-scoring Colts.
He will be a free agent after the season, and was playing his way into a second massive play day and a secure position as a franchise quarterback.
STEELERS DEFEAT FIERCE RIVALS AS AFC NORTH RACE HEATS UP
The Aaron Rodgers-led Pittsburgh Steelers have moved into solo first in the AFC North after gripping on to defeat fierce rivals the Ravens 27-22 in a controversial clash.
The Ravens would be seething after a go-ahead touchdown was overturned on review with 2:43 left.
Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely looked to have caught a pass from Lamar Jackson in the end zone before the ball was knocked free. The officials determined that Likely didn’t maintain control of the ball long enough before losing it and the touchdown was taken off the board.
Unsurprisingly, Jackson didn’t agree with the decision. If the original call stuck, the Ravens would have led 28-27.
The loss drops the Ravens to 6-7 while the Steelers lead the division with a 7-6 mark.
The Steelers had the ascendancy all game, shooting out to a 17-3 midway through the second quarter.
Whenever the Ravens were able to score, the Steelers responded.
They led 27-16 into the last quarter which was trimmed to 27-22 after a pair of Ravens’ field goals.
The AFC North hasn’t been close to the best division this season but it has shaped up as the most intriguing in the AFC.
The Ravens will get their chance for retribution against Pittsburgh in a fortnight’s time with the two set to meet again.
Cincinnati’s hopes of winning the division took a major hit with a loss to Buffalo in the falling snow.
The Bengals had control of the game in the fourth quarter but the Bills scored three fourth quarter touchdowns to finish over the top.
Even at 4-9 though, the Bengals aren’t out of it, but they’ll need to win out and hope the Steelers hit a wall.
The Browns (3-10) are out of the running after their upset loss to the Titans.
NFL SCORES — WEEK 14
Lions 44 def. Cowboys 30
Titans 31 def. Browns 29
Seahawks 37 def. Falcons 9
Bills 39 def. Bengals 34
Vikings 31 def. Commanders 0
Dolphins 34 def. Jets 10
Saints 24 def. Bucs 20
Jaguars 36 def. Colts 19
Steelers 27 def. Ravens 22
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