Down two tight ends with potentially two games to go, the Lions have added reinforcements ahead of the NFC championship game.
Detroit has signed former Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz to its practice squad with plans to potentially elevate him to the active roster for Sunday's game against the 49ers, per the NFL Network.
Ertz spent the first seven games of this season with the Cardinals before landing on injured reserve (quad) and later being released. He had 27 catches for 187 yards and a touchdown, a year after posting 47 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. His tight ends coach with the Cardinals, Steve Heiden, is now tight ends coach in Detroit.
A 12-year vet, Ertz will help the Lions cover for the losses of backup tight ends Brock Wright, who broke his forearm in Detroit's win over the Bucs in the divisional round, and James Mitchell, who suffered a season-ending hand injury in the lead-up to the wild-card win over the Rams.
Rookie tight end Sam LaPorta, a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro, injured his knee in the regular season finale, but has played in both playoff games and made a game-high nine catches to help the Lions take down the Bucs.