No NFL team is more battered on the defensive side than the Detroit Lions, who lost Alim McNeil (torn ACL), Carlton Davis (broken jaw), and Khalil Dorsey (fractured ankle) during their Sunday night defeat to the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field.

The Lions were already missing Aidan Hutchinson (broken tibia), Marcus Davenport (triceps injury), and linebacker Alex Anzalone (broken arm). To address these significant losses, they made a move on Monday by signing linebacker Anthony Pittman from the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad, bringing him back to a familiar environment with several former teammates.

This marks Pittman’s second stint with the Lions, who will face the Chicago Bears in Chicago on Sunday. Despite the substantial injuries, quarterback Jared Goff remains optimistic, telling Yahoo Sports, “We’ll be just fine.” After the loss to the Bills, he added, “I’m sure there will be plenty of talk about how things are falling apart, but no, internally, we’re good. Yes, we had won so many in a row before this, but it stings to lose.”

The Lions are set to play the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday.

Anthony Pittman returns to the Lions for his second tenure.

Pittman, a Detroit native, graduated from Birmingham Groves High School in Beverly Hills, Michigan. He then went on to play at Wayne State University from 2014 to 2018.