Muhlbach played 17 seasons with the Lions and played the second most games (260) in franchise history, behind kicker Jason Hanson. He made Pro Bowls in 2012 and 2018, but had seen his skills slip in recent years.
Campbell told reporters Tuesday, on Muhlbach’s 40th birthday, that the team planned to release Muhlbach the following day.
Muhlbach spent time meeting with Campbell and Lions management before Campbell made the move public, and the Lions had only a walk-through and meetings – and no media availability – scheduled for Wednesday when the move officially hit the NFL transaction wire.
The Lions signed outside linebacker Rashod Berry early Wednesday to take Muhlbach’s roster spot. On Thursday, they waived tight end Hunter Thedford and now sit at 84 players on their roster one below the NFL limit.
“There was a number of moves like with Nick (Williams) that was coming down the wire, to get him back from COVID reserve and the linebacker and then (signing) the quarterback (Jordan Ta’amu on Tuesday) because of where we were at there and it just, once again, it’s putting a strain (on your roster),” Campbell said. “You’re looking for that spot and unfortunately it has to be on his birthday and it stinks.”