On the last Friday before the 2012 NFL season begins on Thursday, each team must cut their rosters down to a maximum of 53 players. These final cuts see the release of about 700 players and the Lions informed their players on Friday which one's would not be making the final team.

Tim Twentyman of the Lions official website reports that G Pat Boyle, P Ryan Donahue, DE Ugo Chinasa, TE Alex Gottlieb, WR Nate Hughes, DE Edmon McClam, LB Carmen Messina, WR Wallace Miles, DT Tracy Robertson, CB Ross Weaver and TE Austin Wells have all been told they will be released.

The moves will become official at 9 p.m. and the waiver wire process will begin shortly thereafter. Players that clear waivers are then allowed to be designated to practice squads.

For more on the Detroit Lions, check out Pride of Detroit. You can also get all of your professional football news over at SB Nation's NFL hub.