Zach Ertz is not a need for the Detroit Lions in 2024: A free agent profile.
Zach Ertz was essential to the Detroit Lions’ chances of winning the Super Bowl, but they can now move on.
We’re toasting to another edition of the Detroit Lions 2023–2024 free agency profiles series. Zach Ertz, the team’s late free agent acquisition at tight end, is the topic of debate today. Despite being signed in January, Ertz never saw the field for the Lions, as there were only two players playing tight end in the room. Ertz is the player with the least amount of playing time in this series, having just spent one week with the Lions.
Ertz’s objective going into 2023 was to remain active to begin the season, and he succeeded in doing so despite having damaged his ACL and MCL in November of 2022. To supplement Ertz, the Arizona Cardinals selected tight end Trey McBride in the 2022 draft. There was always the intention for McBride to take over, even when they signed Ertz back for a three-year contract in 2022. In Kyler Murray’s absence, Ertz was supposed to provide a valuable receiving option for the offense and support the backup quarterbacks.
2023 was not a good season for Ertz. Ertz was still the starter and recovered from his injury in time for the regular season, although his 2023 performance wasn’t as good as his 2022 one. Ertz gained 406 yards and four touchdowns on 47 catches in 10 games in 2022; in three fewer games, his numbers declined even further. ACL rips typically cause athletes to miss a year of play while they heal and acclimate to playing football again. athletes typically return to full strength the year following an ACL rupture.
Ertz’s age is a problem since, at 33 and toward the conclusion of his career, healing from such injuries is more difficult and takes longer. Regretfully, Ertz was sidelined by the Cardinals in November due to a quad strain, as the injury bug struck him once more. After asking for his release about a month later, Ertz was granted it by the Cardinals because he wanted to join a championship-chasing team.
The Detroit Lions ultimately emerged as that squad. After suffering an injury in Week 18, the Lions anticipated that starting tight end Sam LaPorta would miss the team’s opening playoff game. Although LaPorta healed and participated in all three playoff games, Detroit supporters were calling for Ertz. James Mitchell missed the playoffs and Brock Wright was hurt during the team’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leaving LaPorta’s depth severely compromised.
The Lions added Ertz to the practice squad to replace Wright in the depth of the lineup. Ertz was thrilled to be playing with head coach Dan Campbell in Detroit.
“I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to be here with these guys and learn from a head coach who was a tight end,” Ertz remarked. “I cherish Dan. We talked for twenty minutes yesterday, and I’m looking forward to seeing him in front of the team because I’ve always respected him a lot. He is a guy who consistently plays his tight ends in the proper manner. I’m therefore happy to be with him.
