The Detroit Lions are making a potential game-changing addition to their offense ahead of Sunday’s NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers. Detroit is signing veteran tight end Zach Ertz to its practice squad — with an eye toward elevating him in time for the decisive contest at Levi’s Stadium.

Ertz has been a free agent since the Arizona Cardinals granted his request to be released on Nov. 30. There was an initial expectation that Ertz would make a dramatic return to Philadelphia and play for the Eagles once again, but last season’s NFC champions were eliminated on Super Wild Card Weekend — while the Lions could take their place as the conference’s new standard-bearer.

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From the desert doldrums to Super Bowl contention

Ertz began his career with the Eagles and won a Super Bowl there following the 2017 season — the first of three successive selections to the Pro Bowl for the former Stanford star. He remained in Philadelphia until the 2021 season, when the Cardinals acquired him in an in-season trade.

However, Arizona struggled throughout the 2022 and 2023 seasons, leading to Ertz’s request for a change of scenery. Ertz made 27 catches for 187 yards and scored one touchdown during the regular season, which is not the kind of form that would merit another Pro Bowl nod but does show that the 33-year-old still has something left in the tank.

Will Ertz play against the 49ers?

The Lions’ interest in Ertz stems from concerns around second-string tight end Brock Wright, who suffered a forearm injury during Detroit’s 31-23 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday afternoon. In addition to Wright‘s questionable availability moving forward, starting tight end Sam LaPorta has been playing through a hyperextended left knee since the regular season finale.

Detroit’s offense would be impacted severely if anything further happens to LaPorta, a rookie who has been among the top players in his position in the NFL. If all goes well during the week, the Lions will likely add Ertz to the active roster by next weekend in preparation for snaps on Sunday — when the Lions will have an upset on their minds against the top-seeded 49ers.

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