As we approach the start of the 2024 NFL season, excitement is building around the Arizona Cardinals. The team will kick off their campaign on the road against the Buffalo Bills in just 86 days. While many are eagerly anticipating the upcoming season, there is one player who has yet to make a significant impact for the Cardinals – Jeff Smith.
Currently wearing No. 86 for the team, Smith has yet to play in a game with Arizona. However, this number has a storied history with the Cardinals, and many fans are eager to see who will step up and make it their own.
In recent years, No. 86 was worn by tight end Zach Ertz, who made a big impact for the team in 2021. That year, Ertz tied the team’s single-season record for receptions by a tight end with 56 in just 11 games. He was considered a key player for Arizona and was highly respected by his teammates and coaches alike.
However, Ertz’s production decreased in the following season and he was ultimately released after requesting to leave the team due to concerns about his role in the lineup following the emergence of Trey McBride. Despite not living up to expectations in his final season with Arizona, Ertz remains highly regarded as one of the best tight ends of his generation and an important member of several Super Bowl teams throughout his career.
