The Detroit Lions signed veteran Zach Ertz as a reinforcement at tight end. But the big question heading into the NFC championship game is what kind of role could Ertz have in the contest that will determine if the Lions advance to their first Super Bowl.
Detroit head coach Dan Campbell provided an honest assessment of what Ertz could bring while making his weekly appearance on 97.1 The Ticket on January 23.
“It’s just a matter of we wanted to get him here to see if it’s something that we can use in this game,” said Campbell, via SI.com’s All Lions’ John Maakaron. “Do we carry these three tight ends, he being one of them, or not?
There’s no guarantee that he goes right now. It’s just a matter of, as we start to really look at San Francisco, what do we think our best matchups are and can we use him?”
The Lions signed Ertz to their practice squad on January 22. Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the day prior, Lions tight end Brock Wright suffered a broken forearm.
That leaves Sam LaPorta, who has dealt with a knee issue since the end of the regular season, and Anthony Firkser as the only tight ends on Detroit’s active roster.
Zach Ertz Possesses Veteran, Playoff Experience
It’s been four years since Ertz was playing at a Pro Bowl level. He hasn’t appeared in a game this season since Week 7. Ertz went on injured reserve on October 24, and then the Arizona Cardinals waived him upon his request on November 30.
But Ertz could be a plug-and-play option for the Lions this week for a couple reasons. First, he played for Lions tight ends coach Steve Heiden last season in Arizona. That prior relationship seemingly increases the chances that Detroit will be able to get Ertz in a position to contribute immediately.
