Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury sustained in Sunday’s win against the Los Angeles Rams, sources told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Initial reports said Ertz could expect to be gone for several weeks, but was still undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury.
The three-time Pro Bowler leads the team in catches (47), goals (69) and receiving touchdowns (four). He is also third in receiving yards (408).
With Ertz out for this year, the Cardinals will likely rely more on their strong reception corps of DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch and AJ Green.
Brown is out of Week 6 with a foot injury, but manager Kliff Kingsbury said on Monday he was close to making a comeback.
Arizona backup tight ends Trey McBride and Stephen Anderson combined for four catches and 33 yards this season.
The Cardinals acquired the 33-year-old Ertz last October in a trade to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he established himself as one of the NFL’s top tight ends for more than eight seasons.
After having 56 catches for 574 yards and three scores in 11 appearances for Arizona in 2021, he signed a three-year deal worth $31.65 million in March.
