The Detroit Lions may be staring at another offensive line problem just as a short week arrives. Christian Mahogany left Sunday’s 31-30 overtime win over the New Orleans Saints with a left leg injury, and Dan Campbell said the early scan brought some relief - but not enough to rule out a bigger issue.
Mahogany went down on the Lions’ second offensive series after he fell to the turf in the open field while trying to kick out on a toss play to Jahmyr Gibbs. He got up and walked off under his own power, but he later left on a medical and was ruled out at halftime with a knee injury.
“I don't really know,” Campbell said when asked for an update after the game. “I hate to say one way or another.
We did do a scan that really ended up being negative, so that’s good news but that doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods. Sounds like it could be more hip-ish, maybe.
But we’ll see.”
That leaves Mahogany’s status very much up in the air for next week’s trip to face the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, Sept. 17. The Lions could be without a second starter on the line for that game.
Mahogany, 25, missed six games in the second half of last season because of a broken bone in his leg. He was a sixth-round pick from Boston College in 2024.
If he can’t go, Ben Bartch is the next man up. Bartch finished Sunday’s game at left guard and would be in line to start. He’s been a part-time starter for the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars over the past six seasons, and he split first-team reps with Mahogany in practice last week after missing part of training camp while recovering from Lisfranc surgery.
Detroit is already playing without starting center Cade Mays, who will miss at least the first month of the season after breaking his wrist. Mays can return from injured reserve for the Lions’ Oct. 11 game against the Arizona Cardinals.
Juice Scruggs started in Mays’ place against the Saints.
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