The Arizona Cardinals are off to a rough 1-6 start this season, and now they’re losing a key member of their offense.
Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report that Cardinals are placing tight end Zach Ertz on injured reserve with a quad strain suffered in Arizona’s 20-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Going on injured reserve means that Ertz will be out for at least four games; Arizona’s next four games are against the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and Houston Texans.
Pelissero notes that “the plan is for [Ertz] to return this season.”
The #Cardinals are placing three-time Pro Bowl TE Zach Ertz on injured reserve with a quad strain suffered during the game Sunday, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.
Ertz is out at least four games, but the plan is for him to return this season. Ertz has 27 catches this season.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 24, 2023
Ertz, 32, is second in receptions for the Cardinals this season with 27. He also has 187 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Welcome Back, Zach!@ZERTZ_86 x #BirdGang pic.twitter.com/gPOXXuuINR
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) October 8, 2023
The three-time Pro Bowl selection — from 2017-19 with the Philadelphia Eagles — led Arizona in touchdown receptions in 2022 with four.
With Ertz out, it’s an opportunity for promising tight end Trey McBride to see an increased role for Arizona. McBride was selected by the Cardinals in the second round (55th overall pick) of the 2022 NFL Draft after winning the John Mackey Award — given to the top tight end in the country — in college for Colorado State University. He has 15 receptions for 170 yards this season.
