The NFC East is experiencing something of a down year, but there are still two teams in playoff contention, and the pressure is set to increase immensely.
The season began with three legitimate potential 2025 playoff teams and numerous storylines. Thirteen weeks of the season have been completed, but the storylines will now intensify as HBO’s Hard Knocks takes an inside, in-season look at this historic division. Fans will now have an up-close look at the Eagles and Cowboys’ quest for a division title, while the Commanders and Giants will look to keep their quarterbacks healthy as both teams prepare for the 2026 NFL draft.
We’re looking at six takeaways from the second episode of HBO’s “Hard Knocks” Inside The NFC East.
The ladies love A.J. Brown
A.J. Brown paid for fans’ groceries to spread some holiday cheer ❤️ @Eagles
Hard Knocks In Season with the NFC East tonight at 9pm ET on @HBOMaxpic.twitter.com/sgklEBpZLV
— NFL (@NFL) December 9, 2025
It could be over for Zach Ertz
Former Eagles star tight end Zach Ertz will miss both of the upcoming games against his former team after suffering a torn ACL in the Commanders’ 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, according to coach Dan Quinn. Ertz sustained the injury with 2:10 left in the third quarter when he reached for a pass on second-and-11 and took a hit from Vikings safety Jay Ward.
A visibly emotional Ertz had to be helped off the field and was unable to put pressure on the leg. He was soon carted to the locker room, a towel draped over his head, and was ruled out with a knee injury early in the fourth quarter.
Nothing but respect for Zach Ertz ❤️ @Commanders
Hard Knocks In Season with the NFC East tonight at 9pm ET on @HBOMaxpic.twitter.com/3OB8t4wp1p
— NFL (@NFL) December 10, 2025
Ertz exited Philadelphia with 579 receptions, 6,267 yards, and 38 touchdowns, as well as the most catches by a tight end in a single season (2018). He’ll go down as one of the best players in franchise history, making a significant impact in Philadelphia. Since then, Ertz became the sixth tight end in NFL history with 800 career receptions, joining Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Travis Kelce, Antonio Gates, and Shannon Sharpe on the esteemed list.
Ertz, 35, has 49 receptions for 493 yards and four touchdowns this season. Last week, he moved into fifth place on the all-time receptions list for an NFL tight end.
He now has 825.
Jaxson Dart has to protect himself.
It’s evident that Brian Burns and key Giants teammates love the rookie quarterback, and the most significant part of 2026 will be getting the former Ole Miss star to protect himself going forward.
Kliff Kingsbury
Jayden Daniels has missed time with a dislocated elbow. As the second-year quarterback worked to get healthy, Hard Knocks offered insight into the one-on-one teaching sessions that Kliff Kingsbury used to ensure the former Heisman Trophy winner was mentally prepared for his return.
The Cowboys channeled their inner Kirk Franklin.
With a motivated and excited Dak Prescott, an encouraging head coach Brian Schottenheimer, and a “Shiesty” Dallas, they channeled their inner Kirk Franklin as they looked to go on a winning streak and cause a “revolution.”
DeVonta Smith and his pilates
Philadelphia’s wide receiver and Heisman Trophy winner started doing pilates with an Eagles staffer last season.
Eagles players react to Nick Sirianni’s Mount Union
Before he was one of the winningest coaches to start a career in NFL history, Nick Sirianni was an award-winning wide receiver at legendary Division III powerhouse Mount Union. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith weighed in on the coaches’ highlights.
A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are afraid of heights and planes
The Eagles’ wide receiver duo spent parts of a meeting weighing in on getting to games without a plane, and why airlines force you to wear a seatbelt if the aircraft is going to crash anyway.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Hard Knocks In-Season With The NFC East: 6 takeaways from Episode 2
