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Lions' Cade Mays Out 8-10 Weeks, Center Spot Open

8/11/2026

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Summary

Cade Mays Out

Cade Mays will miss roughly 8–10 weeks after suffering a wrist fracture.
Head coach Dan Campbell said Juice Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Michael Niese will compete for the center job before the September 13 season opener.
Mays signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Detroit in March as a top free-agent addition.

Summary

Lions Sign Mays

The Lions signed interior lineman Cade Mays to a three-year, $25 million deal after Frank Ragnow’s June 2026 retirement.
Detroit moved Graham Glasgow to center, released him, and shifted Penei Sewell left.
The Lions traded David Montgomery to Houston for Juice Scruggs.
Coach Dan Campbell said the goal is to identify the best five linemen before the season, now relying on veterans because Mays is sidelined.

History

Historical Context

The modern NFL free-agency era began on March 1 1993 when the league replaced the Plan B system with unrestricted free agency, allowing players with four accrued seasons to sign anywhere. That summer Reggie White joined the Green Bay Packers on a four-year, $17 million deal, setting a new contract benchmark. Detroit’s 2024 three-year, $25 million offer to interior lineman Cade Mays echoes that precedent.

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Cade Mays Out

Cade Mays will miss roughly 8–10 weeks after suffering a wrist fracture.
Head coach Dan Campbell said Juice Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Michael Niese will compete for the center job before the September 13 season opener.
Mays signed a three-year, $25 million contract with Detroit in March as a top free-agent addition.

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