The cuts are underway as the Detroit Lions continue to trim their roster down to 53 players and according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, a decision has been made on LB Anthony Pittman.
According to Birkett, the Lions have decided to cut Pittman, who was one of their best special teams player in 2021.
In fact, Pittman led the Lions in special teams snaps during the 2021 season and many believed he was a lock to make the initial 53-man roster in 2022.
As noted by Birkett, Campbell said on Monday that the Detroit Lions are moving on from guys who contributed last year and did everything right, and Anthony Pittman is one of those guys.
Campbell said yesterday Lions were going to be moving on from guys who contributed last year, did everything right, etc. Pittman's one of those guys.
— Dave Birkett (@davebirkett) August 30, 2022
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell explains tiebreaker for making roster
Last last week, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke to reporters and he explained that the tiebreaker for making the initial 53-man roster would be special teams.
“Well, always the tiebreaker is gonna be special teams,” Campbell said. “That’s the first. If it’s close at all, it needs to be someone who can help us on special teams. I mean, certainly it’s hard. You’re just gonna have to, we have to weight it. Dependability and look, trust is a big deal with me. But, I’m also a realist, too. I understand that you can have a team full of those guys, and if you don’t have enough talent, you’ll get beat. So, it’s a juggling act that I have to do here.”
Campbell added that trimming the roster down to 53 players would not be easy.
“It’s tough, it’s gonna be hard, because you’re gonna be, Brad and I went through it again (Thursday) night,” Campbell commented. “You go through these scenarios, doing the balancing. You’re juggling the durability, the dependability. They do it right, but are they good enough, truly good enough versus the talent, flash player, but can’t trust them. They can do it if the light comes on. It’s hard, but that’s the task we’re given.”
Nation, did you think Anthony Pittman was going to make the Detroit Lions’ initial 53-man roster?
