The Detroit Lions are bringing in three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz to their practice squad. The deal was made after their Divisional Round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wherein tight end Brock Wright suffered a forearm injury.
Wright was placed on injured reserve, ending his season. Hence, the Lions signed Ertz to add depth to their tight end rotation, especially since All-Pro rookie Sam LaPorta is dealing with a knee injury.
Ertz last played for the Arizona Cardinals, suiting up for seven games this season before getting released. He finished his 2023 stint with 27 receptions for 187 yards and a touchdown.
Welcome, @ZERTZ_86 pic.twitter.com/bGOIAEbAQG
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 24, 2024
The Philadelphia Eagles traded the former Stanford standout to the Cardinals in October 2021. In return, the Eagles received cornerback Tay Gowan and a fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Ertz played most of his 11-season career with the Eagles. They selected him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Four years later, he earned his first Pro Bowl selection and helped the franchise win Super Bowl LII over the New England Patriots. He finished the 2017 regular season with 74 catches for 824 yards and eight touchdowns.
He had his only 1,000-yard season in 2018. Ertz finished with 1,163 yards and eight scores. His 116 catches that year were a league record for tight ends in a season and a franchise record by any receiver in a single year.
He has 709 receptions for 7,434 yards and 46 touchdowns in 151 regular season games. In the playoffs, Ertz had 36 catches for 381 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.
Since he is still on the practice squad, it’s uncertain if he will be elevated to the active roster for the NFC Championship Game. With Wright unable to play, Anthony Firkser will have a bigger role as the second tight end on Detroit’s depth chart.
-Lance Fernandez