The Detroit Lions' biggest offseason acquisition may be returning soon.
Lions center Cade Mays spoke after practice on Thursday, Oct. 8, saying that he felt great returning to practice this week. Mays has spent the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve after suffering a fractured right wrist during training camp, and though he has returned to practice, he didn't put a date on his return to regular-season action.
"As soon as possible," Mays said. "I can't really make that call right now. Whenever the time is, I'll be out there."
Mays revealed that the injury he suffered during training camp didn't necessarily come from one play.
"I didn't really know too much was wrong," he said. "[My] wrist was just kinda sore, and then I got imaging
and it showed a fracture. Obviously, surgery and a long return. It sucks, but everything happens for a reason."
Following the retirement of longtime center Frank Ragnow and the release of offensive lineman Graham Glasgow, who served as the team's center in 2025, the Lions made upgrading the center position a priority ahead of the 2026 season, signing Mays to a three-year contract in March. It was the largest contract, by dollar amount, the Lions handed out in the offseason.
But with Mays on the IR before the season kicked off, the Lions pivoted to backup Juice Scruggs, acquired in the offseason's David Montgomery trade and the starter at center for the Lions while playing every offensive snap over the first four games.
"He's been crushing it, playing really good ball," Mays said.
Earlier in the week, Lions coach Dan Campbell seemed excited to get Mays and safety Brian Branch out on the practice field, even though the Lions haven't committed to firm return dates for either starter.
"Any time we get some of our guys back off injury, that makes everybody happy," he said on Wednesday.
That's a sentiment shared by passing game coordinator David Shaw.
"I'm excited to get him back because we think he's got a chance to be very, very good, and it's a good fit for us," he said. "One thing I know for sure, if there's any place you need depth, it's the offensive line. This is a long season, and there's not a play that doesn't touch somebody in a physical manner, right? So getting depth back up front is something huge for us."
Mays didn't share any concern about how his wrist would feel getting back into game shape.
"It's not something that'll linger, so I'm not really worried about it," he said.
He did share some struggles mentally, however, after undergoing surgery for the first time in his career.
"It was tough at the beginning, first time going through surgery in the league and going into IR," he said. "But just trusting the process. Everything happens for a reason, a lot of prayer and reflection in that time."
Getting Mays healthy is good news for a new-look Lions offensive line that has seen its share of struggles. Detroit is currently 20th in rushing yards per game (102), an average 18 yards below its 2025 mark and 42 yards less than 2024. That's not all on the offensive line, but getting back another starting-quality lineman can only help.
Having Mays under center could shift Scruggs into a more comfortable position at guard, while adding more depth regardless of how each player is positioned.
But most importantly, it'll give quarterback Jared Goff a high-quality center to stand behind. Mays and Goff have yet to share a regular-season snap so far. But once Mays is ready to play, he doesn't anticipate any chemistry issues with the quarterback.
"We're still together every day, I didn't take any time off or anything," he said. "Just haven't been able to snap it to him."
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Cade Mays injury update: Lions C aims to return 'as soon as possible'
