Veteran tight end Zach Ertz has the opportunity to play for his second Super Bowl ring.
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Ertz, 33, signed with the Detroit Lions on Monday morning, after being granted his release by the Arizona Cardinals back on November, 30, and walks onto the field and into NFC Championship Game on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
News of Ertz' signing to the Lions' practice squad was first reported by the NFL Network.
Three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz is signing with the #Lions, per sources.
Ertz will start out on the practice squad, with plans to potentially elevate him for the NFC Championship Game. A boost for the final stretch. pic.twitter.com/0vaDCwUvQu
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 22, 2024
The Lions are in desperate need of quality tight end depth, with rookie Sam LaPorta still dealing with the lingering effects of a hyper-extended knee, and Brock Wright suffering a broken forearm in Detroit's victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFC Divisional round.
Prior to being let go by the Cardinals, Ertz appeared in seven games during the 2023 regular season, catching 27 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown,despite being slowed by a quad injury that ultimately landed him on injured reserve.
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It isn't difficult to envision a scenario where Ertz gets the start for the Lions, in two-tight end sets with LaPorta for the Lions on Sunday afternoon.
In addition to the possibility of playing for a ring, Ertz reunites with Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden, who served in the same role on the Cardinals' coaching staff during the 2022 campaign.
Originally chosen by the Eagles in the second-round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Ertz won a Super Bowl ring in Philadelphia's victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. Through the first 151 games of his career, Ertz has caught 709 passes for 7,434 yards with 46 touchdowns, and been named to three Pro Bowls.
Ertz' arrival in Detroit adds a valuable veteran presence to a young team in the midst of a deep postseason run.
