Detroit Lions cut ties with TE Brandon Pettigrew

The Detroit Lions waived former first-round tight end Brandon Pettigrew on Friday after moving him earlier this week from the physically unable to perform list to the non-football injury list.

The team declined to comment on the nature of Pettigrew's condition.

Pettigrew, 31, had not played since tearing his ACL in December 2015. He spent the offseason rehabbing and was placed on the PUP list prior to training camp.

Pettigrew, the 20th overall pick out of Oklahoma State in 2009, played 93 career games (85 starts) with the Lions, making 301 receptions for 2,965 yards and 17 touchdowns. Pettigrew averaged 64 receptions from 2010-13, but the past two seasons he caught just 17 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown in 22 games.

The Lions removed Pettigrew's nameplate and belongings from his locker on Wednesday, a day after they ended his season by placing him on the non-football injury list.

"We made a decision on him," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said earlier this week. "I think it's been reported, and that's about all we're going to say on it. We made our decision, which was best for us."