The Detroit Lions may soon get the chance to see the player they made one of their biggest offseason bets on.
Cade Mays, who signed a three-year, $25 million deal with Detroit, has been sidelined after fracturing his wrist in training camp. But with his practice clock already underway, there’s an expectation he could be in line to start at center as soon as the Lions’ next game against the Green Bay Packers.
That possibility has Detroit listening closely to the people who know him best. Panthers analyst and radio host John Ellis, who spoke about Mays on the Pride of Detroit Direct “First Byte” podcast, didn’t hide his enthusiasm.
“You guys will be thrilled with everything he brings to the table,” Ellis said. “On the field, he’s a mauler in the run game, he can climb to the second level, he’s got great anchor ability in the pass game.
He’s not without flaws, but he’s a top-10 center in my book in this league. And he’s been a big liability in terms of his loss here in Carolina.
He’s also a funny dude off the field, and a great follow on social media. So, you’ll love him.
He’s a Dan Campbell guy. When I saw Dan got Cade Mays, I said, ‘Shit, that’s perfect, man.’”
Ellis also pointed to the part of the job that goes beyond the physical side. At center, Mays will eventually be responsible for sorting out the defense before the snap, adjusting protection, and getting the entire offense on the same page. In Ellis’ view, that’s another area where Mays stands out.
“He plays with intensity and leadership, and he is tremendous in terms of anchoring the center, not just physically, but also commanding everything in terms of the checks, pre-snap stuff,” Ellis said. “He’s a very refined player in that department.”
The Panthers’ decision to move on from him, Ellis said, came down to business. Carolina had drafted Sam Hecht last year, and Luke Fornter was in place as a stop-gap.
“They had to make a business decision, and I think it was pretty clear that they were going to have to move on. They drafted Sam Hecht last year, and Luke Fornter is a stop-gap,” Ellis said.
Detroit still has a few moving parts to sort out before Mays can settle into the lineup. Dan Campbell said earlier in the week that the team will use the bye week to keep working Mays back into shape, but the offensive line picture for the Packers game remains unsettled. Backup center Juice Scruggs has played well while Mays has been out, which gives the Lions another decision to weigh.
“It’s going to be nice to get Cade in the mix. And look, so much of this is, we’ve got to see exactly where he’s at,” Campbell said.
“We’ve got basically two days of half practices with him and so let’s see what it looks like next week. He’s going to continue to train here and then we got to make a decision on how do we work this.
That’s what’s a little unique, he plays center. It’s not like you’re rotating a guard.
So how do we handle this? What’s the best way?
Can he go 70 reps? So, there’s a lot of factors that go into it right now.”
In Other News...
Former Lions Are Already Giving Detroit Fans Mixed Feelings Elsewhere
Former Lions who landed with new teams this offseason are already stirring up some complicated feelings for Detroit fans, and not always for the reasons anyone expected. The latest updates have been a mixed bag: some familiar faces have settled into new roles and produced the sort of reliable work that made them useful in Detroit, while others are still sorting through early bumps in their fresh starts elsewhere.
David Montgomerys move to the Texans has come with a significant health concern after he suffered a groin injury, and his status now hangs in the balance as the week goes on. Kalif Raymonds stint with the Bears and DJ Readers arrival with the Giants have also given the Lions another reminder that the league has a habit of recycling talent quickly, even if the immediate returns are uneven and a few familiar names are already headed down very different paths. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Gave Lions Fans A Needed Laugh Amid Bigger Concerns
After Detroits road win over Arizona pushed the Lions back above .500, the mood around the team had plenty to celebrate, even if the questions on the field have not gone away. The offense looked the part in a 45-21 result, but the bigger concern remains the defense, which has been struggling badly despite still leading the league in sacks.
Against that backdrop, a viral fan video offered a lighter moment for Dan Campbell and the fan base. Mariannes clip of the Lions coach caught enough attention to make the rounds online, and it even reached Holly Campbell, who noticed it, liked it and then reposted it on her own story. In a week when the conversation in Detroit has centered on what still needs fixing, it was a small reminder that Campbell remains the kind of figure who can give fans a laugh even when the bigger issues are still unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Lions O-Line Is Creating A Problem Detroit Fans Will Love
The Lions went into the 2026 season looking to stabilize a unit that had been too uneven a year ago, and the early returns have been better than even the most optimistic projections. Detroit overhauled the group with a few notable offseason additions, bringing in center Cade Mays, using a draft pick on right tackle Blake Miller, and trading for guard Juice Scruggs, while the familiar anchor remained Penei Sewell on the edge.
The result has been a front that looks deeper, tougher and far more reliable across the board, with several linemen earning strong grades through the opening stretch. Sewell has continued to set the tone, Miller has stepped in with poise, and Scruggs has given the offense another valuable piece up front, leaving Detroit with the kind of problem every contender wants: figuring out how to keep a good thing together as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]