NFL: Philadelphia Eagles-OTA

May 28, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz (86) during OTA's at the NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

(Bill Streicher)

PHILADELPHIA It was only a seven-on-seven drill. The pads weren't on, there was no pass rush. It couldn't have been further away from the real games, which won't start until September.

Still, watching the play, it was hard to ignore the potential of things to come.

With Sam Bradford in, the Eagles' new quarterback stood in the pocket and threw a bomb down the field. On the other end was tight end Zach Ertz, who hauled in the long pass and kept going for the touchdown.

Bradford and Ertz connecting on the field has been a common sight for those watching the Eagles' OTAs the past few weeks. Although Bradford has only been taking a handful of reps with the team, and isn't yet taking part in 11-on-11 drills as he recovers from a torn ACL, the chemistry he is developing with Ertz is clear.

"He is a great tight end," Bradford said of Ertz. "Obviously he is really athletic. He gives us the ability to stretch the field and make some (big plays) down the field."

Ertz beating teams down the field is something that was supposed to happen more often the past two seasons.

A second-round pick out of Stanford in 2013, Ertz has the tools to be one of the best receiving tight ends in the NFL. Ertz has shown flashes of making good on that potential, hauling in 94 catches for 1,171 yards and seven touchdowns the past two seasons, despite seeing four different quarterbacks under center during that span.

Now with Bradford, Ertz seems excited about what the duo can bring to the offense.

"Last year, the start of the year, I was hitting the ball more down the field," Ertz said. "Then we had some injuries, and I don't know if the game plan changed or what, but I think we will get back to some of the deep plays. I'll do anything I can to get open."

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford (7) throws a pass to tight end Zach Ertz during organized team activities at the team's NFL football training facility. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The key for Bradford and Ertz turning into any kind of dynamic duo on the field will be whether or not the quarterback can stay healthy. Ertz said the two don't talk about Bradford's recovery from his ACL, but he has seen Bradford "busting his butt everyday" in the weight room since coming to Philadelphia.

"Not only does he have a strong arm, but he is very, very accurate. He can put the ball wherever he wants to," Ertz said. "Being a taller guy, a more athletic guy, he likes to put the ball up high where I can go up and get the ball. He is able to make all the throws in the book."

Ertz has admitted that seeing the team move on from Nick Foles, whom the team traded to land Bradford, was tough. The two had good chemistry on the field, and were pre-game warmup partners before ever game, playing catch for close to 30 minutes every Sunday. Those pre-game sessions turned into results on the field, as six of Ertz's seven touchdown catches have come from Foles.

Now, with Foles gone, Ertz is looking to develop that same kind of chemistry with Bradford and hoping it can turn into even better results on the field.

"Sam is a heck of a person both on-and-off the field," Ertz said. "Off the field, we have gone to dinner a few times. It's been a lot of fun."

Eliot Shorr-Parks may be reached at eshorrpa@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @EliotShorrParks. Find NJ.com Sports on Facebook.