Lions’ Pettigrew moved to non-football injury list

Allen Park – Brandon Pettigrew’s time with the Detroit Lions may be coming to an end. The veteran tight end has been moved to the non-football injury list. 

Pettigrew had been on the physically unable to perform list while rehabbing from an ACL tear suffered last December. He returned to practice two weeks ago and his window to be activated would have been next Tuesday. 

Last week, he spoke optimistically about returning to the field in 2016.

“Do I want to play?” he said. “I’m here seven days a week working my butt off. I think I want to play.”

An eight-year veteran, Pettigrew turns 32 in February. Due a $4.35 million base salary in 2017, with just $1 million in dead money, it will be difficult for the Lions to justify keeping him on the roster beyond the end of this season.

A first-round pick for Detroit in 2009, Pettigrew has appeared in 93 games for the franchise, starting 85. He’s caught 301 passes for 2,965 yards and 17 touchdowns. He had his best season in 2011, with career-highs in receptions (83), yards (777) and touchdowns (five).

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