With only a month left before their season opener, the Detroit Lions have to scramble to find their best offensive line combination. The freak injury that will cost center Cade Mays at least a few months will force the Lions to shake up the offensive line. While Dan Campbell and the coaching staff have different paths that they could take to replace Mays, the frontrunner to be the starter is Juice Scruggs.
The addition of Scruggs has largely gone under the radar this offseason. He was acquired by Detroit in the David Montgomery trade with the Texans, but the focus on that deal was the two draft picks. Scruggs was seen as a veteran backup who may or may not make the 53-man roster.
Fast forward five months, and Scruggs is now one of the most important members of the Lions. He is currently dealing with a soft tissue injury that will keep him out for the next few days. Upon his return, however, he will almost certainly start taking reps as the first-team center.
Juice Scruggs could make or break the Lions' season
During the organized team activities (OTAs) earlier in the offseason, Scruggs was one of the bright spots. In fact, Jeremy Reisman of The Pride of Detroit had identified him as one of the winners of OTAs and minicamp.
At the time, Scruggs talked about how glad he was to have Brad Holmes believe in him and to get this fresh start in Detroit.
After three disappointing seasons with the Texans, a fresh start was needed. Scruggs wasn't able to meet expectations following his selection in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Where Lions fans can find some optimism is the fact that Scruggs played the majority of his snaps at left guard in Houston. His best season there came in 2024, when he spent most of the season at center. Per Pro Football Focus, this was the only season when he was an above-average player with a 64.2 offensive grade.
What got Scruggs drafted in the second round was his production at center at Penn State. His versatility obviously played a part as he lined up all over the interior offensive line in his collegiate years, but he was predominantly a center in his final and best season at Penn State.
The Lions could try to add another veteran to the mix to compete for the starting center spot. Whether they could find an upgrade over Scruggs at this point in the offseason, however, is another question.
This makes Scruggs a massive X-factor ahead of the 2026 season. If he can provide the Lions with even average center play, Detroit can feel pretty good about the state of their offensive line. Otherwise, they may have to keep searching to find the best combination.
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