Zach Ertz: Thursday Night Football Should Be Changed

Zach Ertz. (Jeff Fusco)

BALTIMORE — After the Eagles’ 27-26 loss to the Ravens, they have to immediately turn their attention to the Giants as they host the NFC East rival on Thursday Night Football. But multiple players dislike how the league handles these games, including Zach Ertz.

“You eliminate a preseason game and you add a little mini bye for Thursday games. If they want these Thursday games, I think it’s the best way to approach it,” Ertz said. “Add a little 10-day bye in between a Sunday and a Thursday game and then another 10 days after that. If they want to play Thursday games, that’s obviously tough.”

Jason Peters added that the scheduling “can be better” and how teams should play earlier than Sunday the week before a Thursday game so they have more time to recover. According to Ertz, his teammates already started treating their bodies for the Eagles’ matchup against the Giants immediately after the Ravens loss.

“Guys got to really start recovering right now; a lot of guys hit the cold tubs already,” Ertz said. “When we get back, guys will do the same. It’s tough, but the Giants got to do it, too. Everybody’s got to do it in the league.”

Many players around the NFL also dislike the short weeks, including Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman, who wrote a story for The Players’ Tribune on Wednesday titled “Why I Hate Thursday Night Football.” Sherman said “the whole idea” is “terrible,” “ludicrous” and “hypocritical.”

“Thursday Night Football is just another example of the NFL’s hypocrisy: The league will continue a practice that diminishes the on-field product and endangers its players, but as long as the dollars keep rolling in, it couldn’t care less,” Sherman wrote. “I just don’t understand why the NFL says it’s taking a stand on player safety, then increases the risks its players face by making them play on Thursday, before their bodies are ready.”