Lions sign 3-time Pro Bowl pass-catcher ahead of NFC title game

Jun 5, 2018; Allen Park, MI, USA; Detroit Lions logo on the front of a podium before practice at the Lions Headquarters and Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Facing perhaps their best shot at winning a Super Bowl in franchise history, the Detroit Lions are trying to seize their opportunity.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported Monday that the Lions are signing veteran tight end Zach Ertz. The 33-year-old Ertz will begin on the practice squad but with plans for him to potentially be elevated for Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers, Pelissero adds.

Ertz is a three-time career Pro Bowler who posted 1,163 yards receiving for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 and also won the Super Bowl with them the year before. But he suffered ACL and MCL tears as a member of the Arizona Cardinals in 2022 and finally got waived by them earlier this season after another injury (this time to his quadriceps).

The former second-round pick Ertz appears to be fully healthy now though and can provide some emergency depth at the tight end position for a Lions team that needs it. They just lost Brock Wright to a broken forearm in their divisional round win over Tampa Bay, and breakout rookie tight end Sam LaPorta has been banged up lately as well.

Ertz is already familiar with Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden, who used to be his TEs coach in Arizona. It also probably helps that Detroit seems to have beaten their opponents to the punch for Ertz.