Lions Fill Roster Spot with Long-time NFL Veteran

Photo Credit: The33rdTeam.com

The Detroit Lions have signed tight end Zach Ertz to help them in the upcoming NFC Championship game.

The Lions pulled out a win this past Sunday but lost a contributor in the process. TE Brock Wright reeled in a 29-yard reception in the third quarter but suffered a forearm injury later in the game.
This week, signs have been pointing to Wright not being able to participate in the NFC Championship game. Lions head coach Dan Campbell weighed in on the injury to the media.

“It doesn’t look real good for next week,” Campbell said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “But we’ll see.”

To make up for the loss, the Lions are turning to three-time pro-bowl TE Zach Ertz. Ertz, who is 33 years old, was released by the Cardinals earlier this season per his request.

After recording 27 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown in seven games for the Cardinals, Ertz was not able to find a new home during the regular season. Luckily, he has a connection to the Lions.

Ertz was coached by the current Detroit TE coach Steve Heiden last year in Arizona. Under Heiden, he pulled in 47 receptions for 406 yards and four touchdowns in just 10 contests.

With rookie sensation Sam LaPorta being the tight end on the depth chart to register any statistics this year, the Lions hope to get the same production out of Ertz for the rest of this season as he had last year.
Ertz is no beginner when it comes to playing in the postseason. He won Super Bowl LII with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 - a game in which he had seven catches, 67 yards receiving and one touchdown.

The Lions take on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 28.