Zach Ertz Says Plan With Lions Was to Have 'Legitimate Role' in NFL Super Bowl 58

Zach Ertz's time with the Detroit Lions was short-lived, but the three-time Pro Bowler had big plans when he initially signed with the team.

After being waived by the Arizona Cardinals in November, Ertz landed on Detroit's practice squad in late January after tight end Brock Wright suffered an injury in the divisional round. Making an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show Thursday, Ertz explained that had the Lions reached the Super Bowl, he would have been on the field.

"So the plan was initially, obviously, to come in for a week and learn the playbook and then have an opportunity to have a legitimate role in the Super Bowl," Ertz said. "When we were up 24-10 and then obviously everyone knows what happened, we didn't finish the game. It was tough watching, I wanted to be out there."

Ertz signed with the Lions on Jan. 22 with a goal of learning the playbook and being ready to go for a potential Super Bowl appearance. He didn't play in the NFC Championship, when Detroit ultimately lost to the San Francisco 49ers, ending his hopes of suiting up for the Lions.

It was a tumultuous season for Ertz, who dealt with injuries early in the year and was waived by the Cardinals, but the prospect of playing in the Super Bowl gave him hope.

"The plan was to play in the Super Bowl, which would've been insane with everything that happened in the past year and a half," Ertz said.

Now, Ertz is joining his former Cardinals coach and current Washington Commanders offensive coordinator, Kliff Kingsbury. The veteran tight end is signing a one-year deal with the Commanders worth up to $5 million, per ESPN's John Keim.