Detroit Lions center Cade Mays is expected to miss roughly eight to 10 weeks after sustaining a wrist injury during practice, dealing a major blow to the team’s offensive line according to The New York Times. Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed reporters regarding the incident, explaining that the injury occurred during a pass protection drill in the final period of a non-padded practice Freep.
Detroit Lions Center Cade Mays Sidelined 8 to 10 Weeks With Wrist Injury
This’ll be a while,
Campbell said as reported by the Detroit Free Press. Campbell added that he was not going to provide a specific timeline, though he expressed confidence that Mays would be ready for the playoffs as reported by the Detroit Free Press.
Campbell detailed the mechanics of the play, noting that a defensive lineman executed an arm-over move and chopped down on Mays’ arm during protection work, calling it one of those freak things
Freep. Subsequent reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport established the expected eight-to-ten-week timeline, which sidelines the lineman for the early stages of the regular season according to Yardbarker.
Offseason Addition and Roster Impact
The injury disrupts Detroit’s plans to stabilize the interior of their offensive line. The franchise signed Mays to a three-year, $25 million contract during the offseason as a major free-agent addition according to Yardbarker. Mays took virtually all of the first-team repetitions at center throughout the summer Freep after arriving with 27 career starts across 52 NFL games according to Detroitsportsnation.
Last year, the Lions faced similar questions at the position following the abrupt June retirement of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow Freep. The team hoped Mays would firmly anchor the center spot heading into the regular season Freep. Instead, the team must navigate a lengthy absence for the 6-foot-6, 325-pound lineman according to Detroitsportsnation who fractured a small bone in his wrist according to NBC Sports.
Contenders to Fill the Center Vacancy
With Mays likely headed for injured reserve Freep, the coaching staff is evaluating internal options to take over snaps and develop timing with quarterback Jared Goff according to Detroitsportsnation. Juice Scruggs and Seth McLaughlin are the primary candidates stepping into larger roles according to detroitlions.com.
- Juice Scruggs: Acquired in an offseason trade with the Houston Texans in exchange for running back David Montgomery Freep. Scruggs has 20 starts over his first three NFL seasons according to detroitlions.com, though he is currently managing a minor soft-tissue injury that sidelined him from practice according to Detroitfootball.
- Seth McLaughlin: Went undrafted out of Ohio State in 2025 following a torn Achilles tendon and spent the previous season on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad Freep. McLaughlin was slated to handle the majority of first-team repetitions in practice according to detroitlions.com.
- Tate Ratledge: The right guard, whom the Lions previously considered moving to center during the offseason, will also take reps at the position Freep alongside candidate Michael Niese according to detroitlions.com.
We have options,
Campbell said according to detroitlions.com. Campbell further noted that it was simply the hand they had been dealt and they would move forward, adding that he felt terrible for Mays because he believed the player was having a strong training camp according to detroitlions.com.