Matthew Mulligan

The Detroit Lions cut Matthew Mulligan, their top healthy blocking tight end, which suggested Brandon Pettigrew might be nearing a return.

But Detroit practiced without him once again a few hours later.

Pettigrew remains on the physically unable to perform list while rehabbing his way back from a torn ACL. He suffered the injury in a Dec. 13 game against the Rams, and there's no word on what his status is with less than two weeks until the season opener in Indianapolis.

"We'll see," coach Jim Caldwell said. "Got a little time yet here and he's still recuperating."

Pettigrew's absence is exacerbated by the Eric Ebron injury as well. Ebron injured his ankle almost a month ago. He tried to come back once last week, but that lasted only one day before he was back on the mend. Along with Tim Wright, who is already on injured reserve and done for the season, the Lions are without their top three tight ends from last season. Mulligan had been filling in for Pettigrew as the primary blocker, but was swept up in the first round of cuts that came down earlier Monday. It remains unclear how the Lions will fill those duties, the story all said.