The Lions still haven’t slammed the door on the left guard battle, but Dan Campbell made it sound like Christian Mahogany has the edge heading into Sunday’s opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Asked Tuesday who would get the nod, Campbell said, “I'm still thinking about that,” before adding, “It's probably a good chance Mahogany starts.”
That’s the clearest hint yet in a competition that has stayed open between Mahogany and Ben Bartch. Campbell said earlier in the week that both linemen could play in the season opener, with the two splitting practice reps throughout the week. If neither player separated himself, Campbell said, “then maybe they both play.”
Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said Wednesday that he’s been through this kind of rotation before, including multiple times during his time with the Arizona Cardinals.
“It cannot be a problem. Because if it is, then we're going to stop rotating because there's a breakdown, right? ...
That's the easy answer,” Petzing said. “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.
"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."
Mahogany, a sixth-round pick in 2024, already has some experience in the lineup. He started two games as a rookie, plus another in the postseason, and then made 11 starts last season. Still, his play in 2025 never fully settled in, especially in pass protection, and that uneven stretch came both before and after he broke a bone in his leg against the Minnesota Vikings in November.
Bartch arrived in Detroit in March after stints with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2020-23 and the San Francisco 49ers from 2023-25. The Lions brought him along slowly after a foot injury ended his 2025 season, which meant he missed OTAs and the early part of training camp.
Petzing pointed to Bartch’s physical style and communication as two of his biggest selling points.
“I think we talk about the physicality and the communication, probably the two most important things for an offensive lineman as a starting point, outside of just winning your one-on-one,” Petzing said. “I think he's done a really nice job of that.
He's a really smart player. He's played in a couple different offenses and communicates well.
The physicality is there, the finish is there, the attitude is there. So, excited to see him compete, and he's done a great job of that throughout camp.”
The rest of Detroit’s offensive line appears settled. Penei Sewell and rookie Blake Miller are lined up to start at left and right tackle, Tate Ratledge is at right guard, and Juice Scruggs is set at center until Cade Mays returns from the broken wrist he suffered in August.
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