AP

The Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on the non-football injury list — and cleaned out his locker.

Per the Detroit Free Press, the team will officially release Pettigrew soon.

“We made a decision on him,” Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. “I think it’s been reported and that’s about all we can say on the matter. It was best for us.”

So, Pettigrew’s tenure ends with the Lions without much explanation.

The Lions drafted Pettigrew in the first round in 2009, and for five seasons he was a major contributor when healthy. He caught 71 passes in 2010 and 83 in 2011, and he’s caught 17 career touchdown passes.

Pettigrew suffered a torn ACL last December and was placed on the physically unable to perform list last summer. He had returned to practice Nov. 22, opening a three-week window for the team to evaluate his status before making a roster decision.