The Detroit Lions were dealt brutal news when new center Cade Mays suffered a 'freak' wrist injury late in training camp. Initial reports suggested he'd miss eight to ten weeks, meaning he could return as early as mid-October.
The Lions moved several pieces around in training camp and the preseason before ultimately settling for playing Juice Scruggs in the middle. That has worked out better than expected, but they still need Mays out there.
Fortunately, it looks like he's inching closer to a return. According to A to Z Sports insider Mike Payton, head coach Dan Campbell claimed he's trending in the right direction, though he doesn't want to make any promises.
Cade Mays might make his Detroit Lions debut after the bye week
"Campbell says Cade Mays is trending the right way, and he wants to play, but it would be a tall order to get him ready for Sunday. He doesn't want to put a timetable on him right now," Payton shared on X. "From my POV, looks like after the bye."
Notably, this approach makes perfect sense. They signed him to a three-year deal to be Frank Ragnow's long-term replacement, so there's no need to rush him back to the field when the bye week is just around the corner.
Juice Scruggs has done a surprisingly good job in his absence. Granted, that doesn't mean he's a threat to Mays' job once he's back to full strength, but it has given this team one less thing to worry about.
According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), the former Houston Texans veteran has only allowed six pressures, including two quarterback hits and no sacks. His overall grade (71.5) ranks fourth among eligible centers, and his pass-blocking grade (78.8) is the second-highest. He's been called for two penalties, though.
Even so, Mays should be a notable improvement for an offensive line that has struggled with some operational issues early on. Larry Borom didn't do himself any favors in Week 2 in Blake Miller's absence, and this unit will continue to be a talking point until they find their best five-man combination.
The Lions will follow their road matchup against the Carolina Panthers with another away game, this time against the Arizona Cardinals. Then, they head back home for a much-needed bye week to prepare for their Week 7 clash with the Green Bay Packers, their first divisional game of the season.
On paper, they should win both of those games, even without their starting center on the field. So, as much as Cays wants to be out there, they must prepare him for himself and think about the bigger picture. There's no need to take big risks here.
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