The Detroit Lions are leaning toward starting Christian Mahogany at left guard in their season opener Sunday, Sept. 13, against the New Orleans Saints.
Lions coach Dan Campbell made that revelation at his news conference Friday after Mahogany and Ben Bartch split reps in practice this week.
"I’m still thinking about that," Campbell said. "There’s probably a good chance Mahogany starts."
Mahogany is one of two returning starters on the Lions offensive line, having played 11 games at left guard last season. He took most of the first-team reps at the position this summer, but the Lions are intrigued by Bartch's veteran experience and could use both players Sunday.
Bartch, part-time starter with the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers the past
six years, missed the start of training camp while recovering from Lisfranc surgery and another week with a brain injury.
Campbell said both players "did a good job in practice" this week.
Injury update
Defensive back Christian Izien's status for Sunday is uncertain, though Campbell said "he's doing well" in his return from a groin injury.
"We felt really good about him. He’s close," Campbell said. "I want to see what he looks like running around today and then knowing that we’re going on a short week after this, that’ll have a bearing on it, too. But he’s moving around really well. So I feel like he’s a little ahead of schedule in a good way, so we’ll see."
The Lions play the Buffalo Bills in a Thursday night game next week. Izien is expected to help the Lions this fall at safety and slot cornerback.
Defensive end Derrick Moore, one of three players who's been limited in practice this week along with Izien and Mekhi Wingo (groin), has mostly recovered from his hamstring injury and is expected to make his NFL debut Sunday.
"He should be good to go," Campbell said. "He’s put in two pretty good days here of heavy work. Heavy for him, let’s put it that way. So yeah, I like where he’s trending."
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Lions close to naming starting LG; Izien's status vs. Saints uncertain
