Report: Lions lose another piece to Commanders organization

Another member of the Detroit Lions organization is departing for the nation’s capital. 

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Thursday reported that linebacker and key special-teamer Anthony Pittman is leaving Detroit after four seasons to join the Washington Commanders.

Terms of Pittman’s deal are not currently known. The Lions already invested heavily in a special-teams linebacker this offseason by extending All-Pro Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who led the league in special-teams tackles (14), on a two-year deal worth up to $8 million.

Pittman, a Birmingham Groves graduate who played college football at Wayne State, was signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2019. After spending most of his rookie season on the practice squad, he played in all 17 games for Detroit in each of the last three seasons, contributing 1,099 special-teams snaps to Detroit (with 151 on defense) with 27 tackles over that time. Pittman played 80% of Detroit's special-teams snaps in 2023.

Earlier this offseason, the Commanders hired away former senior director of player personnel Lance Newmark to be Washington’s assistant general manager under new general manager Adam Peters. The Commanders also signed tight end Zach Ertz, who joined Detroit during the playoffs and was active for the team's NFC Championship loss to San Francisco.

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi