The Arizona Cardinals announced on Friday that the team waived Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz. Reportedly, Ertz himself asked to be released. Ertz featured in seven games in 2023 for 2-10 Cardinals, catching 27 passes for 187 yards and one touchdown.
The Cardinals were likely comfortable granting Ertz his release because of the 33-year-old player’s diminished performances and the emergence of second-year tight end Trey McBride. The Colorado State product has 48 catches for 521 yards and one TD.
After playing in the first seven games of the season, Ertz landed on the Injured Reserve with a quadriceps injury. Reportedly, the veteran is expected to be ready for action soon and hopes to join a contender after he clears waivers.
Zach Ertz spent the first eight and a half seasons of his pro career with the Philadelphia Eagles. He earned three Pro Bowl nods and won a Super Bowl with the franchise before being traded to the Cardinals midway through the 2021 campaign.
Although Ertz’s stint with Arizona started well – 574 yards and three TDs to finish 202—he failed to make as big an impact as the Cardinals hoped. Part of the reason was an ACL injury that limited him to 10 games last season and impacted his performances in 2023.
