Dan Campbell Explains Reasoning for Zach Ertz Signing

Veteran Zach Ertz has the potential to play against 49ers.

The Detroit Lions are seeking any and all options to give themselves the best chance to defeat the San Francisco 49ers. 

With tight ends James Mitchell and Brock Wright dealing with injuries, the front office decided to sign veteran Zach Ertz. 

The 33-year-old will start his tenure in Motown on the team's practice squad. 

In the postseason, NFL players are eligible to be elevated to the active roster an unlimited number of times. 

Appearing on 97.1 The Ticket, Dan Campbell expressed Ertz's Super Bowl experience was not the primary factor when the coaching staff and front office weighed the decision to add him at this point in the season. 

"He's played a lot of football. And there's things that he does well. It's just a matter of we we wanted to get him here to see if it's something that we can use in this game," said Campbell. "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?"

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This season, Detroit's offense has leaned on tight ends in a variety of ways. 

Rookie Sam LaPorta has had an immediate impact in Ben Johnson's offense. 

The second-round draft pick set the rookie receptions record and is an integral part of Jared Goff's success leading the offense. 

Detroit's run game has also benefitted from the blocking prowess of the offensive line and the tight ends. 

"I don't think that's something that was the first thing we thought of," Campbell noted, discussing Ertz's vast experience. "But now, look, being in playoff games, being in big environments, that never hurts. But no, it's more about the fact he's played really good football for a long time. And there's things he does well."