Lions Announce Roster Move After Practice Squad Shake-Up
The Detroit Lions have made adjustments to their practice squad, parting ways with a familiar face while adding two new players to bolster depth.
On Tuesday, the team announced the release of linebacker Anthony Pittman, a Detroit native who first joined the Lions in 2019 as an undrafted free agent from Wayne State.
Pittman’s journey with the franchise has been a winding one. After spending much of his rookie season on the practice squad, he eventually appeared in 51 games over the next three years, carving out a steady role on special teams. He later had brief stints with the Washington Commanders and Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to Detroit late in 2024. Earlier this year, he re-signed with the Lions but was once again among the final roster cuts, ultimately landing back on the practice squad before this week’s release.
In his place, the Lions signed offensive lineman Devin Cochran and linebacker Monty Rice to practice squad contracts. Cochran, a 6-foot-7 tackle, most recently played for the Cincinnati Bengals, where he made nine appearances in 2024, including one start. Rice, meanwhile, was a third-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2021 and has logged 128 career tackles across 35 games.
The updated practice squad now features a mix of young talent and experienced depth, including names like WR Ronnie Bell, QB C.J. Beathard, and OL Dan Skipper, alongside the newly added Rice and Cochran.
For Detroit, the moves reflect the constant reshuffling required to maintain roster balance through injuries and evolving depth chart needs. With the season just underway, the Lions are clearly keeping flexibility at the forefront.
Bears Legend Diagnosed With Dementia at 61 — Can’t Speak, But Still Remembers Playing for Chicago
The Chicago Bears have lost too many legends to time, and now one of Walter Payton’s heirs is facing a devastating personal battle away from the field. The news has left fans heartbroken across Chicago.
Doctors recently confirmed a diagnosis of early-onset dementia, a cruel condition that has robbed one of the franchise’s most important running backs of his voice, independence, and many personal memories. His family revealed the toll has been rapid.
He now lives under 24-hour care, separated from his loved ones for safety, as the disease has stripped him of the ability to speak. Yet, he still manages to hold onto fragments of his playing days.
Neal Anderson, once hailed as the man who followed Walter Payton, reportedly remembers two things most clearly: his daughter’s name and that he played for the Chicago Bears. For his family, those moments are bittersweet.
The 61-year-old ran for 6,021 yards and scored 71 total touchdowns from 1986 to 1993, earning four Pro Bowl selections and a place in the Bears’ Ring of Honor. He was Chicago’s star when Payton retired.
His running style, marked by vision and quick cuts, carried the Bears’ offense in the late 1980s and early 1990s. For many fans, he was the steady force that kept Chicago competitive after the Super Bowl XX era.
Now, his wife and children are his biggest supporters, sharing that he still smiles when watching Bears highlights. Former teammates have rallied around him, calling him “an underrated legend” who gave everything to the game.
Bears Nation mourns the cruel twist of fate but continues to celebrate his legacy — a reminder that even when memory fades, the bond between a legend and his city can never be erased.
