The Detroit Lions made a series of practice squad moves this week, releasing Detroit native Anthony Pittman and adding linebacker Monty Rice and offensive tackle Devin Cochran. The transaction highlights the team’s continued effort to adjust roster depth early in the season.
Pittman, a 28-year-old Wayne State graduate, has long been a familiar face in Detroit. He originally signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2019, spending much of his rookie year on the practice squad before debuting late that season. Over the next three years, Pittman appeared in 51 games, contributing primarily on special teams with occasional defensive snaps. Short stints with Washington and Jacksonville followed, but he returned to Detroit late last season. Though he did not make the initial 53-man roster in 2025, he was elevated for Week 1 and logged 21 special teams snaps against Green Bay.
In his place, the Lions are giving an opportunity to Monty Rice, a 26-year-old linebacker who entered the league as a third-round draft pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2021. Rice played three seasons in Tennessee, appearing in 35 games and amassing 128 tackles. However, injuries limited his availability and ultimately led to his release in 2023. Since then, Rice has had short stays with the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, and most recently the New England Patriots, who released him as part of their final roster cuts.
Alongside Rice, Detroit added offensive tackle Devin Cochran, a 6-foot-7 lineman who spent three seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. After going undrafted in 2022, Cochran stuck with Cincinnati’s practice squad before losing his 2023 season to injury. He made his NFL debut last year and saw significant snaps down the stretch.
For Detroit, the moves represent a balance of local loyalty and fresh competition. Pittman’s departure closes a chapter for a well-liked special teams contributor, while Rice’s signing provides a linebacker with both athletic upside and NFL experience. With the Lions aiming to maintain depth at critical positions, Rice now gets another chance to prove he belongs on an active roster.
