The Lions (12-5) locked up the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff picture with their 30-20 win over the Vikings (7-10) in Week 18. However, their win came at a cost, which is why a three-time Pro Bowler could be on his way to Detroit soon.
Rookie TE Sam LaPorta suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise on Sunday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, and is likely to miss some time. That is why some think it would make a lot of sense for the Lions to bring in veteran TE Zach Ertz.
Ertz was granted his request to be released by the Cardinals (4-13) in November and has been searching for the right fit ever since.
The 33-year-old has certainly seen more days in the NFL than he’s going to, but he could be the perfect fill-in until LaPorta is healthy.
It’s rare to have a veteran with Ertz’s experience available to plug and play in the playoffs. He has 148 catches for 1,356 yards and 10 touchdowns over the past three years (2021-23).
Not to mention, Ertz’s position coach in Arizona last year, Steve Heiden, is now the tight ends coach in Detroit.
Head coach Dan Campbell said LaPorta’s injury isn’t as bad as it could’ve been, which means he could return if the Lions can win at least a game or two. But that won’t be easy with one of the league’s top offenses coming to town in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Detroit is set to host the Rams (10-7), who are averaging the seventh most total yards per game (359.3).
LaPorta, who finished his rookie season with 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns, would have played a large role in the game. But the Lions must look elsewhere in the meantime and Ertz is there for the taking.
