ALLEN PARK >> Right tackle LaAdrian Waddle started 24 games for the Lions in the last three seasons including six this season. Once the Lions acquired Michael Ola it appeared the writing was on the wall for Waddle who is coming off ACL surgery last offseason. He was inactive for three of the last four games.
He was released on Tuesday and picked up by the New England Patriots.
“You know, we make moves all the time that best suit us. That was obviously a decision that we made that best suited us at the time, but I saw he got picked up right away which is great,” coach Jim Caldwell said on Thursday. “He’s a good young man and I’m happy for him. Your time in this league is very, very short, so it’s good.”
Caldwell would not be specific about why Waddle was not in the future plans.
“Like I said, I’m happy for him. You’ll find that that happens with coaches and players. Soon, you’re going to see Joe Lombardi will do a very good job somewhere for somebody here shortly and a number of other guys. So that’s part of our league,” Caldwell said.
Caldwell would not speculate on if Waddle’s downfall was because of his knee injury.
“I know one thing, he worked hard, and a fine person,” Caldwell said.
Waddle, 24, was an undrafted free agent who signed with the Lions in April 2013.
The Lions signed guard/center Gabe Idrick who was an undrafted in 2014 and signed by the Tennessee Titans. Most recently he signed with the Browns on Dec. 7 and was released on Monday.
Pascoe ready to go
Veteran tight end Bear Pascoe had his first practice with the Lions on Thursday after signing earlier this week. The Lions needed help in replacing Brandon Pettigrew who was placed on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
“Since we came into the league together I’ve always tried to keep tack of Brandon he’s one of the great tight ends out there these days, (I’ve) got some big shoes to fill,” Pascoe said.
Pascoe was a sixth-round pick in 2009, the same year as Pettigrew was drafted in the first round by the Lions.
He spent four seasons with the New York Giants (2009-2013) and was cut after training camp in September by the Bears.
He thinks he’ll be ready to play on Monday night.
“It depends on how much time I want to put into it, right now I’m happy to be here, I’m very honored and I want to be on the field Monday night,” Pascoe said. “There’s a fire there.”
The other Lions tight ends include Eric Ebron who does not block as well as Pettigrew and Tim Wright who is also a different type of tight end than Pettigrew.
‘Pretty cool’ record
On Sunday Matthew Stafford became the quarterback who is the fastest to reach 25,000 yards by accomplishing it in his 90th game. Dan Marino (92 games) is now in second.
“I didn’t really know it was going to happen in the game, I wasn’t paying attention to it, but I’m sure I’ll look back when I’m done at some point and realize that I had a couple records here and there that were pretty cool,” Stafford said on Thursday. “But that’s about as much as I think about it, to tell you the truth.”
Ins and outs
Calvin Johnson was the only player who didn’t participate at all in Thursday’s practice. However he said his health was fine when he talked to the media before practice.
Also Haloti Ngata (neck), Michael Ola (knee) and Glover Quin (ankle) were limited in practice. Lance Moore, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, had full practice.
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