The Detroit Lions might be getting a major reinforcement on their offensive line soon, as rookie left guard Christian Mahogany has returned to practice-officially starting his 21-day evaluation window. For a team still jockeying for playoff position, the timing couldn’t be better.
Mahogany went down in Week 9 against the Vikings with what was initially described as a knee injury. But as the dust settled, head coach Dan Campbell clarified that the rookie had actually suffered a broken bone in his leg-a tough break, no doubt, but one that left the door open for a return this season.
“For what the injury is-it’s a broken bone-relative to injuries, that’s a good thing,” Campbell said at the time. “I think it’ll heal up; it’ll be stronger than it was before.”
That optimism is starting to show on the field. Mahogany had been sidelined for five straight games while on injured reserve, but last week he was spotted on the practice field working with trainers-a key early step in the Lions’ return-to-play process. On Monday, Campbell hinted that Mahogany might start getting limited reps this week, though he tempered expectations about any immediate impact.
“I don’t know (if he’ll play)-a lot of it’s going to be what does he look like this week?” Campbell said.
“Honestly, I don’t expect a lot right now this week. But I do think he’s starting to feel good enough to work him into practice.”
That’s the key word here: progress. The Lions now have a 21-day window to evaluate Mahogany’s health and determine if he’s ready to be activated to the 53-man roster. If he’s fully cleared, there’s no question he’d be a welcome addition to a line that’s been in flux at the left guard spot ever since his injury.
In Mahogany’s absence, Detroit initially turned to Kayode Awosika to hold down the fort. But when Awosika suffered a foot injury last week, the Lions had to pivot again-this time to Trystan Colon, with rookie Miles Frazier also getting some run.
Colon’s performance was a mixed bag: shaky early on but steadied as the game went on. Frazier, meanwhile, showed flashes of promise, though he’s still working through the typical rookie growing pains.
Looking ahead to this week, Mahogany remains an unlikely candidate to suit up just yet. If Awosika is cleared, he’d likely slide back into the starting role.
If not, Colon appears to be next in line, with the Lions continuing to sprinkle in Frazier to build his experience. It’s a bit of a patchwork approach, but Detroit’s coaching staff has shown they’re willing to adapt on the fly to keep the offensive line functional.
Still, Mahogany’s return-whenever it happens-could be a significant boost. Before the injury, he was showing steady growth and physicality at the position, anchoring the left side with the kind of toughness and technique that fits the Lions’ identity. If he’s able to get back on the field down the stretch, he could provide exactly the kind of late-season lift this offense needs.
For now, the Lions will keep evaluating, keep rotating, and keep hoping that one of their most promising young linemen is close to being game-ready.