Lions cut former 1st-rounder Pettigrew from NFI list

The Detroit Lions have released veteran tight end Brandon Pettigrew from the non-football injury list, the team announced Friday.

Pettigrew, a first-round pick in 2009, started 85 of his 93 games across seven seasons before an ACL tear suffered last December forced him to begin the 2016 campaign on the sidelines.

The transaction appears to suggest that Pettigrew is now healthy and ready to play, so there could conceivably be some interest in his services on the open market.

As is the case with any player cut after the trade deadline, the 31-year-old will first be subject to waivers.

Pettigrew's most productive season came back in 2011, when he racked up 83 receptions for 777 yards and five touchdowns across 16 starts. His role slowly decreased in the seasons that followed, though, and 2014 first-round pick Eric Ebron has since emerged as an impact player atop the tight end depth chart.