Drew Petzing didn’t dodge the question about the Lions’ left guard situation. He leaned right into it.
With Detroit set to open Week 1 using a rotation between Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch at left guard, Petzing was asked whether the setup could create communication problems. His answer made one thing clear: if the rotation becomes an issue, it won’t last long.
“Yeah, it's a great question. It cannot be a problem because if it is, then we're going to stop rotating because there's a breakdown, right?
So, somebody's not getting it done. That's the easy answer.
It's something I've done before in my career. Ultimately, I'd like to have five Hall of Famers up there that we're going to sit in there for 15 years and roll.
I think the reality of the NFL though is sometimes the best thing for the team is not to do that. And it's an opportunity for those guys to continue to compete and earn their reps and to help this team win games.
So, looking forward to seeing whatever that ends up looking like one way or the other kind of play out on Sunday.”
That’s the kind of answer that tells you Petzing has real command of the situation. Rather than treat the left guard spot like a finished product, he’s approaching Week 1 as a live audition. It’s not necessarily a reflection on the Saints’ front, but it does show how much flexibility he has built into the offense.
The matchup also gives Detroit a cleaner look at the competition than it might have expected. Cam Jordan is out for the game, even though New Orleans still has Chase Young and Carl Granderson to work with up front.
As for who has the edge, Mahogany probably does. The Lions have already invested in him, and he flashed at times last season when he was healthy. Bartch is the unknown here, but he’s also one of Detroit’s low-risk, high-reward free-agent additions.
Because of injury, the Lions never got to test Bartch in preseason action. That makes Sunday a real chance to see whether he can be part of the answer at left guard for the season.
For now, the rotation is the only way to find out. And while the lack of a settled solution at LG heading into Week 1 is far from ideal, Petzing sounds fully in control of how this competition is being handled.
In Other News...
Lions Make An Unexpected Week 1 D Line Move Before Saints
The Lions made an early defensive line adjustment ahead of their season opener, releasing Levi Onwuzurike from the active roster and rookie Tyre West from the practice squad. Onwuzurike had spent much of training camp on the roster bubble after dealing with injuries, but he still broke camp on the initial 53-man roster, making the move a notable shift this close to Week 1.
It is the kind of transaction that suggests Detroit is still fine-tuning the back end of its defensive front while the games now count for real. Dan Campbell also addressed the teams travel plans for an upcoming game in Germany, another reminder that the Lions are already juggling more than just the Saints and the usual opening-week prep. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Part Of A Bills Gameday Twist Detroit Fans Will Notice
Before the Lions kick off at Highmark Stadium on Sept. 13, the pregame scene will carry a distinctly cross-border flavor. The Bills announced they will play both the American and Canadian national anthems, with Aulii Cravalho handling the U.S. anthem and the Barenaked Ladies performing the Canadian one, a small but notable nod to the audience Buffalo has long tried to reach north of the border.
It also fits with the Bills broader push to deepen ties with Canadian fans, including an expanded radio network now reaching three major Canadian markets. For Detroit, it is just another wrinkle in a road trip that already comes with plenty of attention, because the atmosphere around this game is shaping up to be about more than what happens once the opening whistle finally sounds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Still Have One Unsettled Jared Goff Problem
The Lions added Josh Dobbs as their new backup quarterback after Teddy Bridgewater retired, and the move made plenty of sense given Dobbs previous connection to offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. It also reflected a reality Detroit has been living with behind Jared Goff: the room is still thin, with undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer as the only other quarterback on the roster.
Jeremy Fowler has now pointed to another name that fits the same general profile, suggesting Jacoby Brissett could surface as a trade candidate. Brissett is with the Cardinals and also knows Petzing, which makes the fit easy to see from Detroits side, even if the path to getting him is still the part that has not been settled. [Read more 🡒]