Zach Ertz might be turning 35 this season, but his game is as young as ever. After an injury-filled 2022 and a short-lived stint with the Detroit Lions’ practice squad in early 2024, Ertz signed with the Washington Commanders. In his first full season back, he had 66 catches, 654 yards, and seven touchdowns. That’s Ertz’s best performance since his 2019 Pro Bowl campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ertz seems to have found his rhythm alongside Jayden Daniels, the quarterback who’s rookie campaign lit the league on fire en route to an NFC Championship Game appearance. Now, as the Commanders gear up for another run, the spotlight is on Ertz yet again. But this time, there are questions about another name joining the team: Deebo Samuel. And Ertz has something to say about it.
Commanders’ Zach Ertz Gets Honest About Deebo Samuel’s Fitness Concerns
The noise around Samuel this offseason hasn’t been kind. Videos and snarky comments labeled the former San Francisco 49ers All-Pro as out of shape. Clips of him looking sluggish at practice turned into memes. Netizens even started questioning if the 29-year-old still had the juice that once made him one of the league’s most feared dual-threat weapons.
However, not everyone is buying into the noise, least of all Ertz. “First and foremost, the guy loves the work,” Ertz said. “He was grinding every day in the off-season. I’ve been with him. I’ve seen him train in the off-season so far this summer. He’s a guy that is a difference maker with the ball in his hands. Is he a running back? Is he a receiver? Doesn’t really matter at the end of the day. The guy’s a playmaker.” That kind of endorsement shows absolute confidence.
Deebo Samuel looking quick in this workout 👀
— Commanders Lead (@CommandersLead) July 15, 2025
Samuel has not had it easy these last few seasons. He was traded to Washington for a fifth-round pick. Samuel eventually received a $17 million guaranteed contract, and plenty of people were ready to doubt him. Apart from Ertz and the team, it looks like Samuel’s trainer also believes in him.
One of his trainers recently posted footage of Samuel sprinting on an incline treadmill at full speed. Samuel looked like the athlete who once destroyed defenses for over 1,400 receiving yards and 365 on the ground in a single season. As Ertz sees it, “You find ways to get the ball in his hands and block on the perimeter for him, and good things are going to happen.”
Who said Deebo Samuel looks slow??!!
😤😤😤
Video from performance coach Nicholas Hill pic.twitter.com/ZP8lwm4JYn
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) June 30, 2025
How Will Samuel Fit Into Washington’s Offense?
If that version of Samuel shows up in Week 1, the Commanders’ offense could be dangerous. Ertz knows what kind of chaos Samuel can create, and under new offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, there’s real potential to let him loose. “Kliff is such a good guy at using people to their skill sets, and Deebo has got a lot of it,” Ertz added. “It’s going to be exciting for him. It’s going to be exciting for us.”
That excitement is well-founded. The Commanders’ offense has Daniels under center, Terry McLaurin stretching the field, Brian Robinson Jr. pounding the rock, and now Samuel lined up from the slot to the backfield. While there are some concerns, like Samuel not having a Pro Bowl season since 2021 and his battles with injuries, hope is still very much alive.
Samuel might break a few tackles, shake off some defensive backs, and maybe drop a pass or two, but he’s still one of the best in the league after the catch. That’s what the Commanders are betting on. The team starts its season against the New York Giants on Sept. 7. If Samuel’s back in form and Ertz keeps doing Ertz things, the Commanders are going to have a great season ahead.
