Source – Lions reach deal with veteran TE Zach Ertz

The Detroit Lions have agreed to a contract with veteran tight end Zach Ertz, a source confirmed to ESPN.

His addition comes after Lions tight end Brock Wright suffered a forearm injury during Detroit's 31-23 divisional round victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Wright's injury left Sam LaPorta as the only healthy tight end on the Lions' roster, and coach Dan Campbell said it “doesn't look good” for Wright's availability for Sunday's NFC championship game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Ertz is expected to sign with the Lions' practice squad and then be elevated for the NFC title game, according to NFL Network, which was first to report news of the deal.

Ertz, 33, was released by the Arizona Cardinals in November. Former teammate JJ Watt said Ertz asked to be released so he could sign with a contender and “make a run at his second Super Bowl ring.”

He won his first ring with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII, a 41–33 victory over the New England Patriots in which he had seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Steve Heiden, the Lions' tight ends coach, was Ertz's position coach with the Cardinals in 2021 and 2022.

Ertz was traded to Arizona from Philadelphia in October 2021 and had been on injured reserve since October 24 with a quad strain at the time of his release.

He returned from an ACL and MCL injury suffered in Week 10 last season to play in the 2023 season opener. He has played in seven games this season, with 27 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown .

A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Ertz totaled 709 catches for 7,434 yards and 46 touchdowns in 11 seasons.