It was a tough Monday for the Lions.
The team’s new center, Cade Mays, suffered a major wrist injury that will sideline him for a “significant period of time,” head coach Dan Campbell announced.
Ian Rapoport reported the injury is a fracture to a small bone in his wrist that will keep Mays out for roughly 8-10 weeks.
It’s a big blow for the Lions, who just signed the 27-year-old to a three-year, $25 million contract this offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
He was a big target for the Lions to help what last season was a struggling offensive line.
“Of course, you hate it. I hate it for him because I felt like he was having a good camp and he had grown so much in our system just since spring,” Campbell said of Mays. “In that regard, yeah, and for us, too, but at the same time, there, again, there’s a reason why we have Juice [Scruggs] here, too, and some of these other guys and they’re going to get a look.”
He also joked Mays will “be ready for the playoffs.”
On Monday, Campbell also added running back Isiah Pacheco has suffered an MCL sprain and will also miss some time.
Prior to arriving in Detriot, Mays spend four years with the Panthers after he was selected in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Tennessee.
Last season, he only allowed one sack and boasted a 94.3 percent pass block win rate, which ranked 20th among other qualified centers.
Detriot will likely turn to Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Michael Niese to see who will be best fit at center without Mays.
“Look, we’re going to find the best five,” Campbell said about the offensive line. “We will [identify] the best five and we’re trying to find that before camp starts, but look, if this goes into the season it does, but at some point, we will find the best five and where they belong and they’ll be ready.”
The Lions open their season against the Saints on Sept. 13.
