Zach Ertz Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Retired NFL legend breaks news on former teammate's release

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 11/30/23

Retired defensive end J.J. Watt played the role of ESPN's Adam Schefter Thursday afternoon, breaking the news that tight end Zach Ertz was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

Watt has worked as a studio analyst for "The NFL Today" since his retirement following the 2022 season. The three-time AP Defensive Player of the Year was teammates with Ertz in Arizona in 2021 and 2022.

Confirming @JJWatt: Cardinals and TE Zach Ertz are mutually parting ways, with Arizona deciding to move forward with its TE Trey McBride while giving Ertz the opportunity to finish out the season somewhere else, per sources. Ertz will go on waivers. https://t.co/Y6btKVKVZH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 30, 2023

Ari Meirov of the 33rd Team floated one Super Bowl contender who could potentially look into signing the 33-year-old pass catcher.

The #Eagles currently have TE Dallas Goedert on IR, and while he's fully expected to return, it would only be fitting for Ertz to find his way back to Philadelphia for the stretch run. https://t.co/m9zD0ClkJn pic.twitter.com/IwwDfKiV7K
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 30, 2023

Ertz was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft and spent the first eight-plus seasons of his career in the City of Brotherly Love. He made all of his Pro Bowls with the Eagles in three consecutive seasons from 2017-19, was the team's leading receiver in four straight campaigns and helped the club win its first Super Bowl in franchise history. Ertz posted a team-high seven receptions for 67 yards and caught the game-winning touchdown with 2:21 remaining in the fourth quarter during the Super Bowl LII victory over the New England Patriots.

The Stanford product was surprisingly dealt from Philadelphia to Arizona in October 2021.

Ertz played 10 games with the Cardinals in 2022 before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He returned for the start of the 2023 campaign but has been on injured reserve since going down with a quadriceps ailment in October.

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