Report: Zach Ertz joins Lions ahead of NFC Championship game

4 Zach Ertz – upload.wikimedia.org

Detroit Lions signed the three-time Pro Bowler Zach Ertz on Monday, according to NFL Network. Ertz will begin his practice with the squad and may be elevated to the active roster to join the Lions’ NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Ertz has been to five playoffs in his career, including the 2017 season where he won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout his playoff career, he caught 18 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown.

In the 2023 season, the Super Bowl champion played seven games with the Arizona Cardinals before dealing with a quadriceps injury, leading the team to put him on injured reserve. However, Ertz recorded 27 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown before the injury. Ertz played under the Lions’ current tight ends coach, Steve Heiden, last season in Arizona.

The 33-year-old requested his release due to the injury, resulting in a cut in late November after Arizona granted the request. Before joining the Lions, he has been a free agent since exited from the Cardinals.

However, Ertz had a notable performance against the Niners earlier in the 2023 season. In Week 4, he caught six passes for 53 yards, which the Niners won the game 35-16.

Throughout 11 seasons, Ertz caught 709 passes for 7,434 yards and 46 touchdowns in 151 game appearances.

Lions’ injury list

The Lions were looking for assistance in the tight end positions after losing Brock Wright due to a forearm injury during Sunday’s 31-23 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Left guard Jonah Jackson also exited the game early due to his knee injury.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell said both players’ conditions did not look good. He also said Jackson would not play in the NFC Championship game but possibly be back in the lineup if the team managed to get to the Super Bowl.

“Doesn’t look real good for next week, but we will see,“ said Campbell after the game against the Buccaneers.

Wright and Jackson’s injuries have left one tight end on its 53-man roster, a rookie Sam LaPorta. However, LaPorta has also been dealing with a left knee injury since Week 18 and currently wears a brace.