Why Did the Lions Sign Zach Ertz? Former Cardinals Tight End Joins Team for Super Bowl Run

The 2023 Detroit Lions have found a way to do something that the organization has been unable to do for over 32 years — make it to an NFC Championship Game. In what has felt like a special team led by head coach Dan Campbell and QB Jared Goff under center, the Lions are just one win away from representing the NFC in this year’s Super Bowl.

While they are in unfamiliar territory as an organization, they have done a great job of building a talented roster and have since made another move today to add more championship résumé pieces to the mix. Early on Monday, the Lions added veteran TE Zach Ertz to their practice squad ahead of their clash with the 49ers.

We examine the move, why they did it, and how it all makes sense as the Lions aim for their first-ever Super Bowl title.

Zach Ertz Signs With the Lions

NFL insiders across the league reported that the Lions have added former Arizona Cardinals TE Zach Ertz to their playoff practice squad roster ahead of the NFC Championship Game with a chance to ramp up quickly enough to be a possible factor in their upcoming game. Ertz is a veteran TE with an impressive résumé, as well as a Super Bowl ring already under his belt.

His presence alone should help boost their offensive group, even if it is just through his ability to share his own experiences of reaching and winning a Conference Championship not too long ago. The belief is the team has far bigger plans in mind than just that, but his presence alone is a good move for a young Lions team.

Why Did the Lions Sign Ertz?

Talent acquisition in the NFL is a 24/7 business, with teams constantly looking to churn the back end of their rosters to find an edge anywhere they can get it. That certainty is coupled with the fact that injuries continuously happen in the field of battle, and while the Lions came out victorious on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they did not come out completely clean injury-wise.

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Backup TE Brock Wright injured his forearm on Sunday, and while no move has been made official regarding his status for the next game or any games beyond that, this move signals the Lions are doing their due diligence to make sure they are covered at an important position in their offense.

What Does Ertz Bring to the Lions?

Ertz has been a productive NFL TE for 11 seasons now, with his most recent stop being with the Cardinals earlier this season. Ertz appeared in seven games with the Cardinals, and during that time, he had 27 receptions, 187 receiving yards, and one touchdown.

The Cardinals opted to release Ertz in what was viewed as a mutual parting of ways between the player and the team with the idea of letting Ertz try and join a team with a championship chance. Ertz has not appeared in an NFL game since Oct. 22 when the Cardinals lost to the Seattle Seahawks. Ertz caught three passes for 19 yards on four targets that afternoon.

Now Ertz has a chance to step back on a football field after over three months off, with a chance to go to the Super Bowl as a member of the Lions.

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