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Laura Woods makes TV return a week after live on-screen collapse: Presenter, 38, fronts coverage of Real Madrid’s clash with Man City
Laura Woods has returned to TV screens for the first time since her shocking collapse live on air – fronting TNT Sports’ coverage of Manchester City’s clash with Real Madrid this evening.
The popular presenter, 38, was hosting ITV4’s broadcast of the Lionesses’ clash against Ghana on December 2 at St Mary’s Stadium when she suddenly took ill and collapsed forward.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright and fellow pundit Anita Asante reacted swiftly to catch her before cameras cut away in a worrying ordeal that sparked concern among viewers.
Woods, who was replaced on the night by stand-in presenter Katie Shanahan, delivered a positive update after the incident – revealing she was in good health after being treated.
‘Gosh that was a bit weird. Sorry to worry everyone, I’m OK. The wonderful paramedics at Saints have said it’s probably a virus, just need a bit of rest and hydration,’ she wrote.
And it appears that those remedies were just the tonic for Woods, who is pitch-side at the Santiago Bernabeu alongside pundits Steven Gerrard, Joleon Lescott and Steve McManaman for City’s blockbuster Champions League clash.
Laura Woods has returned to TV screens for the first time since her shocking on-air collapse
Woods is presenting TNT Sports’ coverage of Manchester City’s clash against Real Madrid
Woods worryingly fell unwell while fronting ITV4’s coverage of the Lionesses vs Ghana
She is joined on air by commentators Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist and reporter Jules Breach.
Woods said in the aftermath of the collapse that she was ‘really embarrassed that [the collapse] happened on TV’ but offered a ‘big thank you to my colleagues at ITV who have really looked after me tonight’.
‘And to Wrighty and Neets for catching me. And sorry again,’ she added.
Wright, who ensured Woods didn’t hit the ground when she fell at St Mary’s Stadium, opened up on the ‘worrying’ incident while speaking to Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Jamie Carragher and Jill Scott on The Overlap, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘She’s fine. I got a message from her this morning. It was worrying at the time but she’s fine. People have been really nice about it. I’m glad she’s okay,’ the Gunners hero said.
Joking, Keane said: ‘I’m guessing she’s not the first woman to fall into your arms Ian. That’s just your knack.
‘She’s okay and that’s all that matters, that’s the most important thing, obviously. You’ll get a knighthood or an award for that, Wrighty.’
Woods’s fiancé and former Love Island star Adam Collard, 30, said on X after the incident: ‘Laura is all ok and with the right people. Thank you for all of your kind messages.’
Woods’s fiancé and former Love Island star Adam Collard let everyone know she was ‘OK’
The presenter said she was recovering well but was ‘really embarrassed’ by the collapse
TNT Sports wrote: ‘Everyone at TNT Sports would like to send Laura Woods our very best wishes. Get well soon, Woodsy.’
Woods is a regular on ITV and TNT Sports, where she presents coverage of the men’s Champions League.
The presenter gave birth to a baby boy, Leo, with Collard in January and took a break from presenting before returning in April.
Collard, known for his controversial stints on Love Island and then Celebrity SAS, and Woods went public with their relationship after they began dating October 2023.
They got engaged in September 2024 after the 30-year-old proposed on a beach in St Ives, Cornwall.
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Laura Woods makes TV return a week after live on-screen collapse: Presenter, 38, fronts coverage of Real Madrid’s clash with Man City
Victor Osimhen’s eight game goal run in Europe came to an end as Galatasaray fell to a 1-0 loss to Monaco in the UEFA Champions League.
The match was decided by a goal from Folarin Balogun, the United States international of Nigerian descent, who found the net to secure the win for Monaco.
It was a night to forget for Osimhen, who failed to register a single shot on target.
He completed just seven passes, with only one of those into the final third, and managed to complete only one dribble.
Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk expressed his disappointment after the match.
“When the match ended, we experienced a night of disappointment, one where we said, ‘how can we not beat this team?’ The game we played in the first half, the dominance we established over the opponent… We couldn’t see it through to the end.”
Buruk also criticized Monaco’s defensive performance: “Monaco was perhaps one of the worst teams we’ve played in terms of defense.”
He then blamed time-wasting for his side’s inability to secure the win.
“In the last part, we switched back to two strikers, the opponent pulled back, and the match ended somewhat due to the opposing players lying on the ground and the referee allowing it.”
In addition, Buruk highlighted the impact of Galatasaray’s injury and suspension issues, which had a major effect on their performance.
Victor Osimhen. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
“There are such misfortunes in football. They all happened to us at the same time. It’s not just injuries; two of our defenders received suspensions.
“In recent weeks, we’ve had to play with the same players all the time. When you look at the bench today, we didn’t have a single defender.
“We’ve been through a tough period, and it’s very hard to calculate this.”
Buruk also emphasized the importance of proper planning and transfers:
“You need to have a budget for transfers. It’s not just TFF, there’s also UEFA. As you know, we transferred Osimhen. We’ve brought in very important players like Sane, like Uğurcan, like Singo, like İlkay, but we can’t know this scenario.
“Whatever happened, everything piled up all at once due to injuries. If there’s anyone responsible, of course it’s me.”
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Galatasaray now have three losses and three wins from their six Champions League games this season.
They will turn their attention to domestic action, where they face Antalyaspor in the Super Lig on December 13.
Buruk will be hoping for a return to form, with Osimhen expected to play a key role in helping the team get back to winning ways.
Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has acknowledged that the arrival of Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has placed a heavy strain on the club’s finances, admitting the record-breaking deal has affected their transfer plans and overall budget.
Osimhen completed his switch from Napoli in the summer after months of negotiations, and the move instantly became the most expensive in Turkish football.
No club in the country had ever gone beyond the thirty-million-euro mark for a single player, yet Galatasaray invested far more to convince Napoli and the player. With his salary included, the total cost of the transfer is expected to reach around one hundred and fifty million euros.
The ambition behind the deal was clear. Galatasaray saw Osimhen as a marquee signing who could lift the team at home and in Europe. However, the financial commitment has been enormous for a club operating in a league that does not generate the same revenue as Europe’s biggest competitions.
The pressure has grown in recent weeks, with Galatasaray suffering a dip in form. The champions have lost three of their last six matches in all competitions, including a Champions League defeat away to Monaco on Tuesday.
Injuries have added to the challenge, with Wilfried Singo, Mario Lemina and Kaan Ayhan all unavailable. The problems have been severe enough that Buruk has had to rely on academy players to fill the squad.
Asked after the Monaco match about plans for reinforcements, Buruk admitted that the Osimhen deal has left little room to manoeuvre in the market, although he still believes the club will find solutions in January.
“There are no defenders left on the reserve bench. If someone got injured, there would be no solution,” Buruk said, per Sport News.
“We are going through a difficult period, and we have not been able to get the desired results from some players. There are salary budget restrictions from both the TFF and UEFA for transfers. We bought Osimhen for 75 million euros, and his salary is also a huge burden.”
He added that the club did not anticipate the situation would become so challenging. “We brought in important players like Sane, İlkay, and Singo, but no one could have foreseen this scenario. After the November break, it became difficult to fill the reserve bench. The responsibility is mine. We will make a correct plan in the winter transfer window. If we continue in the Champions League, we will prepare accordingly,” he said.
Despite the financial weight of the transfer, Galatasaray remain confident in Osimhen’s ability to influence their season. Injuries have slowed his start, but he has shown flashes of the quality that made him one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
Marseille legend, Mamadou Niang has identified defender Calvin Bassey as the Super Eagles player that should replace William Troost-Ekong at the heart of Nigeria’s defence.
Recall that Troost-Ekong recently shocked football fans when he announced his retirement from international football last week.
The former Watford defender ended a decade-long Super Eagles career after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“With what I see at Fulham, the impact he has in Premier League matches, he is a talented, tough defender who has very good distribution with his left foot, and athletic quality which is above average,” Niang said via Canal+.
“He is a player I think is a leader of the Nigeria defence, who can replace Troost-Ekong, who took this Nigerian team to the AFCON final.
“Calvin Bassey is more than capable of succeeding him in that position.”
World number one Aryna Sabalenka has disclosed that facing Nick Kyrgios in the battles of the sexes won’t harm the reputation of women’s tennis.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Sabalenka will play the Australian, ranked 672 in the world, on December 28 in Dubai.
Speaking with BBC, Sabalenka stated that she is not concerned that losing to Kyrgios in the exhibition game could damage the reputation of women’s tennis.
Read Also:Osimhen Is A Fantastic Striker –Emegha
“I am not putting myself at any risk,” the 27-year-old Belarusian told the BBC.
“We’re there to have fun and bring great tennis. Whoever wins, wins.
“It’s so obvious that the man is biologically stronger than the woman, but it’s not about that. This event is only going to help bring women’s tennis to a higher level.”
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Not every great player becomes a great manager … but here’s why former Celtic and Ireland striker Robbie Keane looks like joining a select band
It’s 65 years since Rangers last set foot on Hungarian soil to face Ferencvaros.
An aggregate win was the first step on a run to the final of the Cup Winner’s Cup which would end in disappointment with defeat to Fiorentina.
Although the club’s current followers aren’t familiar with the sights and sounds of Budapest, there will still be certain individuals in the opposition ranks this week who might provoke a sense of deja vu.
Stefan Gartenmann, once of Aberdeen, is the vice-captain. Daniel Arzani, who had an injury-curtailed loan spell at Celtic, plays on the wing.
Stephen Glass, a former Dons manager, is the club’s assistant. And the fellow sat beside him on the bench might just ring a bell, too.
The days when Robbie Keane celebrated goals with his trademark cartwheel, roll and smoking gun are over, but they can be seen in abundance on social media.
Robbie Keane has made a fine impression as Ferencvaros manager, as Rangers are potentially about to find out on Thursday
Keane in his pomp as a player when he turned out for boyhood favourites Celtic
Keane cuts a relaxed figure at a Ferencvaros press conference during their Europa League campaign
Across 20 years, in the colours of Tottenham, Liverpool, Celtic, the Republic of Ireland and others, the Dubliner went head over heels no fewer than 393 times.
Remarkably, 68 of those goals came across 146 caps. Keane is both Ireland’s top scorer and his nation’s record appearance holder.
The 45-year-old has nothing to prove to anyone in football, yet has embarked on a career in the dug-out with the same fervour with which he went at defenders while a teenager at Wolves.
History shows that a stellar playing career doesn’t always translate into a manager of substance. However, there is already compelling evidence to suggest that Keane may be classed with the select band who have successfully made the transition.
The journey began when an emergency thrust him into a player-manager role at Indian side ATK (his last club after LA Galaxy). It became more strategic when he filled assistant roles with Ireland, Middlesbrough and Leeds.
Keane first broke out on his own at Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2023. It was to prove an extraordinary introduction.
He was criticised in some quarters for taking the role and had to vehemently defend his position saying: ‘I don’t want to get into politics, I’m here as a football man and someone that loves the game.’
Within four months, the Gaza war had begun. Keane was evacuated to Greece for his safety, with the league being played in neutral venues in Europe before resuming in Israel.
Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane gets his message across to players from touchline
Celtic fans have fond memories of Keane the player, now as a manager he could be set to knock rivals Rangers out of Europa League
By the time the season concluded, he had led Maccabi to the title and the last 16 of the Conference League.
His decision to quit with a year to go on his contract didn’t defuse the situation. His wife Claudine detailed the extent of the abuse to which they had been subjected – including online death threats.
Keane’s next career move accordingly became a source of national debate. He took six months out before moving to Budapest to replace Pascal Jansen in January, He believed he would be judged solely on his attributes as a manager and, on this score, he’s been beyond reproach.
Ferencvaros were struggling to capture the seventh straight title they craved when he took over. The race went down to the last day, but a 2-1 victory over Gyor ensured that his team triumphed while Puskas Akademia – the project directly linked to prime minister Viktor Orban – would be denied their first crown.
A second successive championship success for Keane owed much to his willingness to be pragmatic.
When he first took charge, he attempted to implement a 4-3-3 system. After four matches, he realised he just didn’t have the players for it. A change of shape brought a change of fortunes and ultimately prevented the Hungarian game’s powerhouse from relinquishing the title.
‘I am paid to coach and I’m paid to find a way to win games,’ he reflected.
‘You have to be able to find a solution rather than stick to a formation.’
The only way is up for Robbie Keane the manager after a stellar playing career
The Irishman on the sidelines during a match between Ferencvaros and Fenerbahce in Istanbul
He also displayed an early ruthlessness as his side went on the run that would see them keep their title.
After a 7-0 home win over Nyiregyhaza Spartacus, he revealed that he told his players: ‘Don’t stop if you can smell blood.’
Keane’s God-given talent was honed on the streets of the Dublin suburb of Tallaght, yet it was nourished by dedication that few could match.
There are many stories which illustrated his desire to succeed. Perhaps the best one came when he moved to the MLS and the Irish public were starting to question if his commitment to the famous green shirt would be as it once was.
In October 2015, Ireland faced a crucial Euro qualifier against Germany. Keane’s son was born five days before the match. He arrived in the world at 6pm and, by 10pm, the forward was on a flight from LAX to Dublin. Ireland won the game and qualified.
For those who now wear the Ferencvaros shirt under him, no sacrifice is seen as being too great.
‘As a player, I demanded a lot from myself,’ he explained. ‘And that’s what I want from players I’m coaching.’
While discipline and dedication are his watch words, he feels he is no autocrat.
‘You have to let people know when things aren’t right,’ he said.
‘I’ve always done that as a player, as a captain, be that with players or staff. It’s about standards. If things need to be said then they’ll be said, it’s a man’s game.
Celtic fans best remember Keane as a predatory frontman during his spell at Parkhead
‘I know the game. I can help strikers and defenders, because I played against defenders for 21 years. I will demand the very best from the players, it’s all about high standards. You have to train as you’d play and earn the right to be in that team.
‘I want players to express themselves, like I did. We want players to have no fear, don’t be frightened to try things. We don’t want them to be robots. Use your imagination, be clever and cheeky around the box. Those are the players who win games. We will encourage that freedom. Then, it’s up to them.’
So far this season, that approach has borne fruit. After a rocky start, Ferencvaros are back sitting in their customary position on top of Nemzeti Bajnoksag 1.
The disappointment of losing to Qarabag in the Champions League has been eased by going five games unbeaten in the Europa, where they now sit in sixth place.
Little wonder that Keane was linked with the recent vacancies at Wolves and Celtic. If he wins a third championship in as many years, that sort of speculation will only intensify.
Needing no less than a win to preserve Rangers’ slim hopes of progressing in the competition, the task facing Danny Rohl on Thursday is arduous.
If the German can spike the most famous gun in the game, his side really will be on a roll.
Former Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida has urged Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle to break what he describes as a “dangerous” dependency on Victor Osimhen as the push for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title gathers pace.
Babangida, speaking to Tribal Football, said the national team’s growing habit of placing its hopes on one player is risky, especially with AFCON 2025 fast approaching.
Osimhen’s influence on the side is no secret. The Galatasaray forward has scored 31 goals in 43 games for Nigeria, placing him just six shy of the legendary Rashidi Yekini.
Yet Babangida believes the team’s record with and without the striker highlights the problem. With him fit, Nigeria have lost five of their last 40 matches. Without him, they have suffered 11 defeats in 29 games and managed just nine wins.
Those numbers became a talking point during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers when Osimhen’s absence coincided with a poor run of results. The team failed to win any of their opening four matches, recording three draws and a defeat.
His return changed the mood. Osimhen struck six times during the final six qualifiers as Nigeria recorded 14 points from a possible 18. His efforts revived belief, but the Super Eagles still finished behind South Africa in the race for automatic qualification.
In the playoffs, he delivered again, scoring twice in an extra-time win over Gabon, only to suffer an injury in the final. Once he limped off, DR Congo took control and went on to win on penalties. The defeat remains a painful reminder of how much the side leans on him.
“It is dangerous that it appears that the Super Eagles is built around Victor Osimhen. It was when he was removed in the beginning of the second half against Congo, that the team started to struggle. That is very bad,” Babangida said.
“The Super Eagles of my time was not built around one player. Many people have observed that Super Eagles is built around Osimhen. This is a problem that Eric Chelle must fix, if the team wants to win the AFCON.
“Chelle must impact this mentality to all the players, the attackers especially, that the team is not built around Osimhen. Any player given the nod to feature in any game must perform very well and play as a team.”
He added that ambition alone is not enough if others are not ready to rise to the task.
“We need a fully fit Osimhen, but we also need a fully mentally prepared players who knows that with or without Osimhen, Super Eagles can win,” he said. “Morale should be high in the team whether Osimhen is there or not. Osimhen was absent in most of the games that the team failed to win during the World Cup qualifiers.
“Super Eagles should not be in a mess, if Osimhen is injured. Chelle must address this issue because injury is part of the game. Osimhen’s absent in any game should not be the end of the world for Super Eagles.”
Nigeria begin their AFCON campaign on 23 December against Tanzania, with Tunisia and Uganda also in Group C. The team will open camp in Egypt this weekend, and Osimhen is expected to be among the first players to report for duty.
© 2025 Naija News, a division of Polance Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]
HT Spor commentator, Mustafa Denizli has criticized Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen following his display in the team’s UEFA Champions League 1-0 defeat to Monaco on Tuesday.
Recall that Osimhen failed to score as Galatasaray lost against Monaco in France.
Denizli insisted that Osimhen was very ineffective against the French Ligue 1 side.
“The primary reason for losing this match was that Monaco won the deflected second balls,” Denizli said (via Habersarikirmizi).
“As the English say, ‘The team that wins the match must win the second balls.’ Galatasaray exerted an unusually strong effort in the first half.
“I don’t know if anyone saw Osimhen in this match. He played one of his most passive games since joining Galatasaray.
“If Osimhen had been able to keep up with Barış Alper Yılmaz and Leroy Sane in terms of tempo, running, and exertion in the first half, the result could have been different. But he was very ineffective.”
Uganda head coach Paul Put has taken aim at FIFA after the world soccer ruling body permits clubs to hold on to their players until just one week before the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off.
Clubs were earlier mandated to release players for the competition latest December 8.
FIFA later moved the date to December 15 reportedly due to pressure from European clubs.
Put Slams FIFA
Put admitted that FIFA’s decision has disrupted his team’s preparation.
Read Also:AFCON 2025: Uganda To Prepare For Super Eagles Clash With Two Friendly Matches
‘We received a message from FIFA that we can only have the players abroad on the 16th or 17th. I had hoped to get them from the 8th. Now we will be with half the team until then,” Put told Uganda Football Federation official website.
‘It becomes very difficult to make good preparation but we will deal with it. It is unfortunate but it is like this.’
On Disrupted Tactical Planning
Put noted that tournament build-up normally allows extended work on tactical and technical structures.
However, the restricted squad numbers now mirror the short turnaround seen during qualification windows.
‘All the plans you make for months move far away. You prepare yourself mentally and you brief the players on what to improve. Now it becomes the same as qualification because there is no time,” added Put.
By Adeboye Amosu
Everton delivered one of the biggest shocks of the Women’s Super League season as Nigerian international, Toni Payne produced the decisive assist in a stunning 1–0 victory over Chelsea at Kingsmeadow.
The result ended the Blues’ 34-game unbeaten run and handed manager Sonia Bompastor her first league defeat since taking charge 18 months ago.
Toni Payne set the tone early, bursting down the right flank before drilling a precise low cross into the box, where Honoka Hayashi slid in to turn the ball home.
It was Everton’s first WSL win over Chelsea since September 2013.
The goal sent shockwaves through the stadium as Chelsea, sluggish in midfield and uncharacteristically disjointed in attack, struggled to respond with their usual intensity.
Goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan, delivered a dominant performance, making a series of crucial saves, while defender Ruby Mace anchored a resolute back line that refused to break even under late pressure.
Chelsea Ramp Up Pressure – But Everton Hold Firm
Chelsea emerged for the second half with renewed urgency, especially after the introduction of Sam Kerr, whose presence revitalised their attack. Yet the home side’s execution remained poor.
They came agonisingly close when a Sandy Baltimore corner struck an Everton defender and bounced off the post, sparking a frantic goalmouth scramble that the Toffees eventually cleared.
In stoppage time, Chelsea thought they had finally equalised, only for Everton to clear a shot off the line. Moments later, Wieke Kaptein headed against the crossbar, their second woodwork hit of the game.
Despite registering:
Chelsea failed to find a breakthrough.
A Tactical Masterclass From Everton
Everton’s defensive execution was near-perfect. Their shape remained compact, energy levels never dipped, and they consistently made the right decisions under pressure.
Chelsea, however, paid the price for wastefulness. Kerr scuffed a one-on-one chance, typifying their blunt attack.
The defeat could have long-term consequences for the reigning champions. Chelsea, aiming for a seventh straight WSL title, now sit six points behind leaders Manchester City after 10 games.
This loss is their first since the dramatic 4–3 defeat to Liverpool in May 2024, and also the first under Bompastor in league play.
Next Fixtures
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Chelsea: vs Roma, UEFA Women’s Champions League — Wednesday, 20:00 GMT
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Everton: vs Arsenal, WSL — Saturday, 12:00 GMT
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Gut-wrenching moment mic’d-up NFL star tells trainers ‘I don’t think I can get up’ after suffering career-threatening injury that left him in floods of tears
Fresh footage has revealed the heartbreaking moment NFL star Zach Ertz told his coaches that he can’t ‘get up’ after suffering a career-threatening injury.
Washington Commanders star Ertz was left in tears on Sunday after summersaulting and landing awkwardly following a brutal hit from Minnesota safety Jay Ward.
The tight end immediately grabbed his right knee and, before long, cameras caught him sobbing as he was carted towards the locker room.
To make matters worse, on Monday, an MRI confirmed that he had torn the ACL in his right knee, thereby ending his season and putting his NFL future in doubt.
Just one day later, the latest episode of ‘Hard Knocks’ on HBO Max was released and revealed that Ertz had been mic’d up for the game against the Vikings.
The brand new footage provided fresh insight into the incident and showed the moment Ertz was hit – along with his heartbreaking reaction afterwards.
The latest episode of ‘Hard Knocks’ revealed the gut-wrenching moment that Washington Commanders star Zach Ertz told medical staff that he was unable to stand up after taking a hit
Fresh footage showed another angle of Ertz being helped off the field against the Vikings
On Monday, an MRI confirmed that Ertz had torn the ACL in his right knee following this hit
Footage showed the brutal hit that Ertz took from Ward, from a sideline perspective, which sent him tumbling in the air before crashing back down to the ground.
The tight end could be heard groaning in pain as he lay on the floor, before a teammate went over and asked: ‘You good?’. A depleted Ertz replied: ‘No’.
We was immediately seen waving to medical staff on the sidelines, who quickly rushed on and tried to treat him.
‘I think I hyperextended in the back. I don’t think I can get up by myself’,’ Ertz said.
The HBO Max footage then showed another angle of Ertz been assisted off the field, before being helped onto a cart and taken into the locker room.
In a gut-wrenching moment, Ertz’s intense sobbing was picked up by the microphone he wore, revealing the devastating impact that the injury had almost immediately.
Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota could be seen consoling Ertz, who covered his face with a towel as emotion overwhelmed him. His right leg was already in a brace and he was soon ruled out of the game.
In the ‘Hard Knocks’ episode, Ertz’s intense sobbing was picked up by the microphone he wore
The heartbroken star was consoled by teammates before being carted off the field
There are fears the 35-year-old may have played his final NFL game after he was carted off
The 35-year-old Ertz first joined the NFL in 2013 and has been with the Commanders since 2024. He moved to the nation’s capital after spells with the Lions, the Cardinals and the Eagles.
Back in February 2018, the tight end helped Philadelphia beat the New England Patriots to win Super Bowl LII.
On Sunday, however, he was hurt on a punishing afternoon for the Commanders, who also lost quarterback Jayden Daniels to injury.
Daniels, who missed the past three games with a dislocated left elbow, was forced out again at Minnesota on Sunday after landing hard on the previously injured non-throwing arm during an interception return.
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