Lions make decision on status of Zach Ertz for NFC title game

Oct 9, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz (86) against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Lions are playing it safely with their newly added Pro Bowler Zach Ertz.

The Lions will not be activating Ertz ahead of their NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif.

The #Lions are not activating Zach Ertz off the practice squad for Sunday’s NFC title game, per source. Ertz worked hard all week to get ready but team will hold him out.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 27, 2024

The Lions signed Ertz on Monday with the hope of elevating him from the practice squad by week’s end. The former Arizona Cardinals star has been recovering from a quadriceps injury he suffered in Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks.

There was optimism amongst the Lions faithful that Ertz could provide experienced depth at the tight end position behind standout rookie Sam LaPorta. Lions quarterback Jared Goff even called Ertz “really impressive” for picking up Detroit’s offense “extremely fast.”

“He’s picked it up extremely fast,” Goff said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “He really has. Really impressive, not that you didn’t expect that from a guy like him who’s been around for so long. I’ve known him here and there throughout the years, and just hearing about how smart he is and how well he can pick up things, he’s done it really well this week. It’s been good.”

Ertz could potentially be reassessed and activated for the Super Bowl if the Lions were to make it that far. But they’ll need to overcome the tall task of beating the 49ers to get there.

Ertz caught 27 catches for 187 yards and 1 touchdown in limited action for the Cardinals this season.