The Lions are juggling more injury trouble in training camp, and this time it’s hitting two spots that matter: center and running back.
On Monday, Dan Campbell said Cade Mays is dealing with a wrist injury that will keep him out for a “significant” stretch, while Isiah Pacheco is working through an MCL sprain. Campbell also made clear that Mays’ issue isn’t minor - he called it a freak accident during a protection rep and said it will cost him regular-season time.
“It was just in protection," Campbell said. "He was rushing, the D lineman made a arm-over move and chopped at it. It's one of those freak things."
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported the initial return window for Mays at 8 to 10 weeks and said the injury is a fracture of a small bone in his wrist.
That’s a tough blow for a player the Lions brought in on a three-year deal to be the long-term answer at center after Frank Ragnow retired abruptly before last season. Graham Glasgow handled the job in 2025, but his results were uneven, and Detroit moved on from him before free agency.
Now the Lions have to sort through the next layer of interior options. Juice Scruggs, acquired in the David Montgomery trade, is dealing with a soft-tissue injury but is expected to be in the mix once he gets back. Seth McLaughlin, an undrafted free agent from Ohio State in 2025 who signed a futures deal this offseason, is also in line for snaps, along with Michael Niese.
Tate Ratledge is part of the conversation too. He’s expected to start at right guard, but he did spend time at center in camp last year, and Campbell said the team wants to refresh him there.
"Those are the guys, that's why their here. Juice is dealing with a little bit of an injury, soft tissue.
He won't be out there today," Campbell said. "It'll be still a few more days before he's back, but certainly Juice is a candidate.
McLaughlin's gonna get looks, obviously. He'll probably run mostly with the ones today, Niese has done it and then Ratledge is gonna work.
I don't see him doing team, but we've got to get him back up to speed with doing a little snapping just in case. We've got options.
Listen, it's the hand you're dealt and you move on."
Pacheco’s injury adds another wrinkle to the backfield. He was brought in this offseason to back up Jahmyr Gibbs after the trade that sent Montgomery to Houston. He’s now the second Lions running back sidelined, following Sione Vaki, who is out with a freak eye injury and a broken nose.
"It'll be a little bit. He's got a little MCL sprain, but we feel good about that," Campbell said. "We feel pretty good about him being ready to go certainly when the season gets here."
With Vaki and Pacheco both out and Gibbs only recently back after a contract-related hold-in to begin camp, Detroit has leaned on Jacob Saylors and Jabari Small for more work. Campbell said Monday he likes what he’s seen from both of them.
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