The Lions still haven’t locked down their left guard spot, and that means the season opener could come with a little extra shuffling up front.
Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch are set to split reps at left guard in practice this week, and Dan Campbell said Detroit may even use both players Sunday, Sept. 13, against the New Orleans Saints if the decision still isn’t made.
"Yeah, we could," Campbell said. "[Tuesday] they’re going to split. I see them splitting on Thursday, I see them splitting on Friday, and then if nothing’s been decided by then, then maybe they both play."
Mahogany started 11 games at left guard for the Lions last season and took most of the first-team snaps there this summer. Bartch’s path has been slower because of injuries. He had Lisfranc surgery last year while with the San Francisco 49ers and also missed time in training camp with a concussion.
Campbell was complimentary about Bartch’s camp work, but he said Aug. 20 that there wasn’t enough time left for Bartch to take the job outright. Detroit signed Bartch this offseason with the idea that the position would be an open competition.
"I know Bartch hasn't been out there as much, but when he was out there, he was good," Lions general manager Brad Holmes said last week. "He performed well, he just wasn't able to be out there as much. But I would say last week with the practices, the scrimmage and that preseason game, he earned his spot."
However Detroit handles left guard, the line in New Orleans is going to look very different. The Lions are set to roll out a new-look front that could be one of the youngest in the league, with Mahogany in the mix as a starter.
Penei Sewell, a three-time first-team All-Pro at right tackle, is moving to left tackle full-time for the first time since his final college season at Oregon in 2019. Juice Scruggs is expected to step in for the injured Cade Mays at center. Rookie first-round pick Blake Miller is slated to start at right tackle, and Tate Ratledge is the only returning starter besides Mahogany.
"We're really excited about that group," Holmes said. "Obviously, we’ve got a lot younger and a lot of guys had a lot of opportunities to grow that we were already excited for."
In Other News...
Saints Captain Picks Just Sparked An Immediate Locker Room Debate
The Saints have settled on their leadership group for the 2026 season, and it is a familiar mix of core veterans and newer voices. New quarterback Tyler Shough is among the nine players named captains, joined by center Erik McCoy, guard David Edwards, EDGE rushers Cameron Jordan and Chase Young, linebackers Chris Rumph II and Kaden Ellis, safety Justin Reid and long snapper Zach Wood.
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The workouts do not mean a move is imminent, but they do underline how quickly the receiver picture has changed. For New Orleans, the search right now is less about a splash and more about finding enough dependable bodies to survive the early stretch and give the offense some flexibility if the injury situation lingers. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Cornerback Need Could Put One Steelers Star In Play
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New Orleans could be one of them if the Steelers talks with Porter continue to stall. Any pursuit would not be simple, and a trade would likely be complicated enough to linger well past the usual early chatter before the deadline, but the Saints have reason to keep an eye on the market and see whether a rare opportunity develops quietly behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]