Key Highlights
- Detroit Lions center Cade Mays will miss significant time due to a wrist injury sustained in practice.
- Campbell expects the quarterback-ready player back for playoffs but does not have hard timetable details yet.
- Mays signed a three-year deal totaling $25 million during free agency earlier this offseason cycle.
- NFL Network analyst Ian Rapoport estimates an eight to ten week absence from action overall.
You might think injuries are just Tuesday for NFL centers, but when it is your biggest investment in the 2026 offseason, you get nervous. Dan Campbell took a moment Monday afternoon at Allen Park to address the situation regarding Cade Mays and his recovery path.
The Cost of Commitment
Campbell inked that three-year deal with Detroit back in March during free agency. He signed for $25 million over those years, making him a priority acquisition alongside Frank Ragnow’s retirement from the 2025 season.
The offensive line suffered significant regression after losing their veteran leader to injury or departure last year. Adding Mays was Detroit’s No. 1 priority entering that 2026 offseason specifically because they needed depth at center position immediately following Ragnow’s sudden retirement in the previous cycle.
Return Windows and Playoff Expectations
“He will be back for the season at some point, but it’ll be down the road,” Campbell said on Monday. That vagueness had many thinking about Mays’ ability to return before Week 18 simply hoping he can make time.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the injury “will keep him out roughly 8-10 weeks.” While unofficial, that timeline would put him back on field sometime between Weeks 4 and 6. It is a much better outlook than what many fans were expecting before practice started Sunday.
Detroit has bye in Week 6 and faces the Green Bay Packers in their return to field in Week 7 (Oct. 25). If he misses Weeks four through six, that means you have to look at who steps up during training camp next week instead of hoping for a miracle recovery timeline.
Drafting Depth Chart Decisions
Campbell said his goal is find the “best five” offensive linemen and put them on field together, which might not happen right away. He wants to see where they belong before the season officially starts instead of guessing who will play.
Juice Scruggs has missed last few days at practice with soft-tissue injury while Tate Ratledge took reps as center during rookie training camp and offseason program previously down roster reserve options include Seth McLaughlin and Michael Niese. There is a reason why we have Juice here too, Campbell said.
“You brought up McLaughlin he’s going to get an opportunity,” the coach explained regarding potential role players for next season. That means you can ask for one thing but let them find out about some of these guys in actual game scenarios rather than just watching from sidelines during practice sessions.