Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz will miss the rest of the season due to 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 away 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), targets (69) and receiving touchdowns (four). He also ranks third in receiving yards (408).
With Ertz out for this year, the Cardinals will likely rely more on their strong wide receiving corps of DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown, Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch and AJ Green.
Brown has been out since Week 6 with a foot injury but head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Monday he is close to returning.
Trey McBride and Stephen Anderson, Arizona’s backup tight ends, have combined for four catches and 33 yards this season.
The Cardinals acquired the 33-year-old Ertz last October in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he has established himself as one of the NFL’s top tight ends for more than eight seasons.
After catching 56 catches for 574 yards and three scores in 11 appearances for Arizona in 2021, he signed a three-year contract reportedly worth $31.65 million in March.