ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have released tight end Andrew Quarless, the same day he was eligible to come off the NFL's suspended list.
Quarless had been suspended due to a gun charge on July 4, 2015, and eventually entered a plea, being sentenced to a year's probation for firing a gun in public in Miami Beach, Florida.
He served the suspension during the Lions' season-opening victory over Indianapolis and Sunday's loss to Tennessee.
The signing of Quarless was a big deal in Detroit initially because it appeared to go against general manager Bob Quinn's policy of zero tolerance for domestic violence and gun issues -- something he made clear during his introductory press conference in January.
Quinn had released a statement when the team signed Quarless in August, helping to explain his decision then.
"We have thoroughly researched the incident that caused the suspension and have talked at length with Andrew about this," Quinn said in the statement. "Andrew has been forthright and honest about the situation and he has gone through the process within the legal system. As an organization we are comfortable with adding Andrew to the roster and look forward to seeing him compete for the rest of the preseason."
Quarless did compete in the preseason, but with four tight ends already on the roster, the Lions apparently saw no reason to keep him after his suspension ended Monday.
Quarless, who played college football at Penn State, was taken in the fifth round by the Green Bay Packers in 2010. He has 89 career catches for 940 yards and six touchdowns.
