Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Aiming to be available Week 1
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Ertz (knee) said Thursday that "the goal is always to be there Week 1" of next season, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Ertz spoke to the media after new coach Jonathan Gannon's introductory news conference, telling those assembled that he'll be three months removed from surgery to repair damage to the ACL and MCL in his left knee as of Saturday. While Ertz added that he won't "go out there early, put the team at risk when I'm 80 percent," he said his goal is an "adaptable" one. The Cardinals aren't slated to report for training camp until late July -- i.e. more than five months in the future -- but considering the leaps made in medical technology, he has a legitimate chance to be available for the season opener in early September.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Recovering from ACL, MCL surgeries
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Ertz disclosed Thursday that the season-ending surgery he underwent in late November addressed ACL and MCL damage in his left knee, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Based on the recovery timeline typically associated with ACL surgeries, Ertz won't be available for the Cardinals' offseason program this spring, and the fact that his procedure also required an MCL repair adds another complication as he embarks on what will likely be an arduous rehab process. For his part, Ertz said that he's hopeful that he'll be ready to go for Week 1 of the 2023 season, but even if he endures no setbacks in the rehab process, he seems unlikely to be fully cleared for the start of training camp in late July. The Cardinals will turn to rookie second-round pick Trey McBride to serve as their top tight end for the rest of the current season, and perhaps in the early stages of the 2023 campaign, too.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Officially placed on IR
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The Cardinals placed Ertz (knee) on injured reserve Saturday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
This move was inevitable after coach Kliff Kingsbury announced Nov. 16 that Ertz was slated for season-ending surgery for the knee injury he suffered Week 10. But the Cardinals waited until Marquise Brown (foot) was healthy enough to be activated from IR, which came to pass Saturday. With Ertz sidelined, Arizona will turn to Trey McBride as the team's top tight end, with Stephen Anderson and practice-squad member Maxx Williams the other options at the position.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Ruled out for season
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Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury confirmed Wednesday that Ertz (knee) is scheduled for surgery and will miss the remainder of the 2022 season, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
A second opinion apparently confirmed that Ertz won't be able to play again this season. Rookie Trey McBride took on a three-down role following Ertz's departure from the Cardinals' Week 10 win over the Rams, but Arizona could also look to get Stephen Anderson involved down the stretch. Ertz is under contract through 2024, with $4 million of his 2023 salary fully guaranteed and another $3 million guaranteed for injury, per Spotrac.com.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Seeking second opinion
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Ertz plans to get a second opinion on the knee injury that he suffered Sunday against the Rams, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN reports.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that the tight end's knee injury is believed to be a season-ending issue, with Weinfuss confirming that Ertz is out indefinitely. For his part, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury noted that the team expects to have a clearer picture regarding Ertz's status later Monday or Tuesday. In Ertz's looming absence, TEs Trey McBride and Stephen Anderson are in line to see added opportunities in Arizona's passing game in the coming weeks.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Multi-week absence expected
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Ertz (knee) is expected to miss multiple weeks, but his ACL appears to be intact, though an MRI on Monday will determine the extent of his injury, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Coach Kliff Kingsbury didn't have an immediate update on Ertz's injury after the game, but it appears Ertz will likely sit out multiple games after hurting his knee in the first quarter of Sunday's 27-17 win over the Rams. Trey McBride will start at tight end while Ertz is sidelined.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Doesn't return Sunday
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Coach Kliff Kingsbury didn't have an update on Ertz's (knee) status after Sunday's 27-17 win over the Rams, and the tight end was seen wearing a knee brace in the locker room, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Ertz didn't return to the game after being carted to the locker room in the first quarter. He'll have one extra day to heal up since the Cardinals don't play until MNF against the 49ers in Week 11, but it's unclear if the veteran tight end's currently viewed as day-to-day, week-to-week or worse. If Ertz misses additional time, rookie second-round pick Trey McBride would ascend to the top of Arizona's tight end depth chart.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Suffers knee injury Sunday
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Ertz sustained a knee injury during Sunday's game at the Rams, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
On third-and-4 late in the first quarter, quarterback Colt McCoy connected with Ertz for a 12-yard completion. However, Ertz was in noticeable pain right away and walked slowly to the sideline tent before getting carted to the locker room. If he doesn't return, he'll end Week 10 action with just the one catch. Rookie second-round pick Trey McBride and Stephen Anderson are the next tight ends up for the Cardinals.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Scores for second straight game
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Ertz caught five of eight targets for 40 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 31-21 loss to the Seahawks.
The tight end caught a six-yard strike from Kyler Murray with less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter to bring the Cardinals within a field goal, but the Arizona defense couldn't stop Seattle from answering back. Ertz has found the end zone in back-to-back games, giving him four TDs on the season, and he'll look to extend that streak in Week 10 against a Rams defense that just gave up a game-winning score to Buccaneers rookie TE Cade Otton.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Finds end zone in loss
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Ertz brought in four of five targets for 34 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals' 34-26 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.
The veteran tight end was a distant third in receiving yards while working in his usual shorter-area role, but he paid dividends for fantasy managers with an eight-yard scoring grab early in the third quarter. Ertz's trip to the end zone was his first in the last four games, and he'll look to follow it up in a Week 9 divisional showdown against the Seahawks.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Quiet night in Hopkins debut
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Ertz brought in two of four targets for 21 yards and recorded a two-point conversion catch in the Cardinals' 42-34 win over the Saints on Thursday night.
The veteran tight end finished third on the team in targets for the night, but his share paled in comparison to that of the debuting DeAndre Hopkins, who paced the Cardinals with 14 looks. He also likely benefited from the fact newcomer Robbie Anderson logged just a single target after just joining Arizona via trade Monday, but Ertz should continue to enjoy a solid complementary role in the offense moving forward even when Hopkins, Anderson and eventually Marquise Brown (foot) are all on the field together.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Another 10 targets
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Ertz recorded seven receptions on 10 targets for 70 yards in Sunday's 19-9 loss to the Seahawks.
Ertz tied for the team lead in targets with Rondale Moore, though that was skewed by the early exit of Marquise Brown (ankle). Regardless of the reason, Ertz has now seen double-digit targets in consecutive games -- and for the fourth time in six games. He made more of his opportunity against the Seahawks, with much of his production coming on a 32-yard reception late in the third quarter. Though this was an encouraging performance, target distribution in Arizona could change significantly as DeAndre Hopkins (suspension) is due back in Week 7 against the Saints.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Ineffective on 10 targets
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Ertz caught six passes for 48 yards on 10 targets against Philadelphia on Sunday.
Ertz no doubt hoped to do more damage against his former team, but the Eagles knew to pay close attention and kept Ertz contained. Ertz should have at least one more week of substantial target volume while DeAndre Hopkins remains suspended, and with the hapless Seahawks defense up next it could be a good bounce-back setting for Ertz.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: TEs to Start
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Ertz has 21 targets in his past two games against the Raiders and Rams, and he should continue to get plenty of attention from Kyler Murray with Rondale Moore (hamstring) and A.J. Green (knee) hurt. Ertz has at least 10 PPR points in each game this season and 14 catches over his past two games. The Panthers haven't given up a lot of production to tight ends this year, but they've played the Browns, Giants and Saints to open the season. Ertz will be Carolina's toughest test, and he should be considered a potential top-five Fantasy tight end this week.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Does little with big volume
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Ertz caught six of 10 targets for 45 yards in Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Rams.
Three different Cardinals saw double-digit targets as Kyler Murray set new career highs in attempts and completions, but Ertz was by far the least productive of the trio. His day would have looked a lot better had he been able to haul in a five-yard TD pass from Murray just before halftime, but the ball glanced off his hands. Ertz's 25 targets through three games is second among all tight ends behind Mark Andrews, which should at least give him a solid fantasy floor heading into a Week 4 clash with the Panthers.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: High catch total in Week 2
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Ertz caught eight passes for 75 yards on 11 targets in an overtime win against Las Vegas on Sunday.
Ertz was a steadying presence for the struggling Arizona passing game, pacing the Cardinals in catches and receiving yardage while tying for the team lead in targets. Ertz may well be Kyler Murray's most reliable target while DeAndre Hopkins is suspended, especially if Marquise Brown (six catches for 68 yards on 11 targets) continues to flop in the WR1 role. The Cardinals face Tennessee in Week 3.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: TEs to Start
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Zach Ertz played in Week 1 against Kansas City despite dealing with a calf injury prior to the game, and he finished with two catches for 14 yards and a touchdown on four targets. He should do better this week against the Raiders, who allowed a touchdown to Gerald Everett in Week 1. Ertz has plenty of upside as long as DeAndre Hopkins (suspension) and Rondale Moore (hamstring) are out, and he should have better production in Week 2 following a full week of practice.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Puts in full practice Thursday
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Ertz (calf) practiced in full Thursday, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Ertz's DNP on Wednesday may have been a mere rest day after playing 60 percent of the Cardinals' offensive snaps in a Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. He intimated as much Thursday, telling Drake, "I feel great now. The calf, God willing, is behind me, so (I'm) really just focused on being the best I can be on Sunday and find a way to win." Assuming he's over his calf injury, Ertz will look to increase his involvement in the passing game Week 2 after a 2-14-1 performance on four targets in the opener.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: No practice Wednesday
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Ertz (calf) was a non-participant at Wednesday's practice, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
The Cardinals continue to exercise caution with Ertz, who has been tending to a calf issue since Aug. 4. He was able to suit up Week 1 against the Chiefs, playing 39 of 65 (60 percent) of Arizona's offensive snaps en route to two catches (on four targets) for 14 yards and one touchdown. Head coach Kliff Kingsbury told Weinfuss earlier Wednesday that he believes Ertz will be able to practice in full Thursday, which would mark his first uncapped session of the campaign. In any case, Ertz appears as if his status for Week 2 in Las Vegas isn't in question, something the team may confirm as soon as the release of Friday's injury report.
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Cardinals' Zach Ertz: Grabs Week 1 touchdown
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Ertz caught two of four targets for 14 yards and a touchdown and added a two-point conversion in Sunday's 44-21 loss to Kansas City.
The Cardinals' passing game didn't get going until the second half, when the game was well out of hand, and Ertz made both his trips to the end zone in the fourth quarter. The tight end caught 56 passes for 574 yards and three TDs in 11 games after joining Arizona in a trade last season, and with DeAndre Hopkins (suspension) and Rondale Moore (hamstring) both sidelined to begin the 2022 campaign, Ertz figures to be one of Kyler Murray's top targets in the early going.
