Gronkowski will replace Pettigrew on Lions' roster
The Lions will sign tight end Dan Gronkowski from their practice squad Monday when they put Brandon Pettigrew on the injured reserve list, s league source said. Pettigrew, the Lions' second first-round pick (20th overall) in April's draft, will undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee, injured on the opening drive of Thursday's loss to Green Bay.
Gronkowski, a 6-6, 255-pound tight end out of Maryland, was the penultimate pick of the draft (255th overall) and one of the Lions' final preseason cuts. He saw plenty of action in the preseason with Pettigrew missing considerable time with a quadriceps injury. Gronkowski finished with four catches for 39 yards, including a 21-yard touchdown reception in the comeback win over Indianapolis.
But the Lions kept three tight ends on the roster ahead of him: Pettigrew, Will Heller and Casey Fitzsimmons. Gronkowski cleared waivers -- the N.Y. Jets nearly claimed him -- and was signed to the practice squad along with the Lions' two other seventh-round picks -- linebacker Zack Follett an offensive lineman Lydon Murtha. Follett was signed from the practice squad in Week 5, while Murtha was signed off the practice squad by Miami during the bye week.
Gronkowski's signing will mean nine of the Lions' 10 draft picks were on the 53-man roster this season, with Murtha (who is on the Dolphins' roster) the lone exception.
(Updated: 4 p.m. Monday -- It'll be official Tuesday morning when Gronkowski signs his contract. Players were off today, returning to work Tuesday with a bye-week schedule due to the Thanksgiving game last week.)
