Graham Glasgow acknowledges minor challenge in battle to be Lions' starting right guard

After three seasons with the Denver Broncos, Graham Glasgow was very glad to come back to the Detroit Lions this offseason. He was the Lions' third-round pick the same year Taylor Decker was their first-round pick (2016), and having played alongside Frank Ragnow too Glasgow wanted to be back where he could be very comfortable.

"To play with Taylor, to play with Frank, it just came down to I wanted to be a part of that O-line room,” Glasgow said. “I wanted to be back with my buddies. And I wanted to be a part of this team.”""

- Via The Detroit News

Glasgow replaces the versatility of the departed Evan Brown, with the ability to play all three interior line spots. But he's also competing with Halapoulivaati Vaitai for the starting job at right guard, and the winner is to be determined as things have evened out lately after Vaitai missed time early in camp.

Graham Glasgow acknowledges, embraces challenge competing for starting right guard job

When Ragnow has had his practice reps limited at times, either due to his ongoing toe issue or becoming a dad recently, Glasgow has naturally shifted over to center in his place.

Via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News, Glasgow recently acknowledged the challenge inherent in his focus moving away from a direct competition for a starting job.

"I wish I could determine that, (but) that's the guys upstairs," Glasgow said after last Thursday's practice. "I don't get to determine that. I was saying earlier, I think if you can play center, you can play guard, and I would like to get more guard reps, but at the end of the day, it's just the price of doing business.""

Glasgow also noted it's a friendly competition with Vaitai.

"I think we have a pretty good relationship," Glasgow said. "He's a great guy. He's really humble, he's funny, he's a good guy to be around. We went golfing a lot during OTAs, it might have been once a week, and I had a lot of fun with him. Like I said, he's a great guy.""

During the television broadcast of the second preseason game against the Jaguars, Glasgow was shown almost looking like a coach--surely carrying a clipboard as more than a prop. Regardless of his role, as the starter at right guard or the top backup to the three interior starters, he's one piece of the Lions' offensive line that is not the subject of any worry.