Headed into this season, we knew that the Detroit Lions had made a wide range of changes to their struggling offensive line. Losing Frank Ragnow following their 2024 season, and then losing both Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow this offseason, really forced them to think hard about the future of their trenches.
Jared Goff is not getting any younger, nor is he planning on stopping his football career any time soon. That means that Detroit has to take their offensive line's construction very seriously for at least another decade. Penei Sewell is an excellent anchor for that, but he can't play the entire line.
That's what made their additions of Cade Mays, Blake Miller, Ben Bartch, Juice Scruggs, Larry Borom, and others so important. Mays, especially, seems like a fantastic and cheap solution to replacing Ragnow's impact, although he'll be missing quite some time after fracturing his wrist.
That injury is going to be a major test of the Lions' depth and work to fortify their line, which isn't necessarily a terrible thing.
Early test of Lions isn't a bad thing ahead of first preseason game
Two things help the Lions out despite Mays' injury.
One is that their preseason is just about to kickoff this week, which immediately gives them a slate of three contests where they can play their reserves heavy minutes. They'll need to determine their best path forward at center before Week 1, and that competition is likely set to begin between Seth McLaughlin, Juice Scruggs, and Michael Niese.
The other thing benefitting the Lions is they built some very solid depth very else on their line. At both guard slots, they have versatility behind Tate Ratledge and presumed starting left guard Christian Mahogany. Miles Frazier and Bartch are very solid backups there, and Frazier specifically has been looking good in training camp so far.
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At both tackle spots, the Lions feel set, as well. We still don't know who will be the teams' starting right tackle, but Miller will be starting in their first preseason contest. If he shows some strengths and the ability to learn from any rookie mistakes committed, that'll be a great endorsement for him starting.
Head coach Dan Campbell agrees that the Lions' depth could end up being their saving grace here, despite how big of a loss this is for their offense as of right now. He told reporters, according to Detroit Free Press's Dave Birkett:
"...there’s a reason why we have Juice here, too, and some of these other guys. And they’re going to get a look. And you brought up McLaughlin, he’s going to get an opportunity. And that’s the best way to find out on some of these guys. I mean, that’s all you can ask for. It’s like, 'Man, it’s your shot, let’s see where he can go with it.'"
It's not ideal to lose your starting center so early in the year, especially with Mays being new to the team and working under a new offensive coordinator. But, Detroit's schedule is very easy leading up to their bye week, and if his projected 8-10 week recovery holds up, he could be back right when the Lions begin their important divisional contests.
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