Juice Scruggs has played well the past three weeks as the Detroit Lions' fill-in center − well enough that when Cade Mays returns from injury sometime next month, Lions coach Dan Campbell said Scruggs "absolutely" will be in the mix for the starting left guard spot.
Campbell made that admission during his weekly interview on 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM) on Tuesday, Sept. 29.
Scruggs is the fourth-highest graded center by Pro Football Focus through three weeks, while the Lions have rotated left guards because of injury and have had an open competition at the position since the start of training camp.
Christian Mahogany started the Lions' Week 1 win over the New Orleans Saints at left guard but injured his hip on the second offensive series. Ben Bartch
started at left guard in the Lions' Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills but was out with a foot injury last week against the New York Jets, when Mahogany returned to the lineup.
Bartch struggled in his start, allowing seven quarterback pressures per PFF, while Mahogany ranks as the league's sixth-best guard through three weeks, according to the site, but has had bouts of inconsistent play.
"As far as Juice ... it was a heck of a job by [general manager] Brad [Holmes], him getting him in here with us because he really fits us," Campbell said in his radio spot. "He’s a pro, man, he’s high energy, he’s the same guy every day, he busts his tail, he’s getting better. He’s getting better for us at the center position. So, man, he’s a good fit for us."
The Lions acquired Scruggs in a trade with the Houston Texans in early March, then signed Mays to be their starting center when free agency opened two weeks later.
Mays worked exclusively as the Lions' first-team center in training camp before he broke his right wrist in a non-padded practice in August. Scruggs repped as a backup center and guard before the injury.
Mays started the season on injured reserve, and Campbell said Monday he expects Mays to return sometime around the Lions' bye next month. The Lions play the Carolina Panthers on "Sunday Night Football" this week and visit the Arizona Cardinals next week, then have a bye before hosting the Green Bay Packers in the first NFC North game Oct. 25.
Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said last week Scruggs has "done a nice job" with the ancillary parts of playing center like setting protections but "there's some little things here that we can clean up."
"I think it's an area we can improve, but I wouldn't say it's been bad," Petzing said. "I think it's a good start. I think we need to take another step. I think a couple IDs in the first game, obviously the false start in the second game, but that was a live environment and that's the stress you play playing on the road in the NFL. But I think for the most part, the communication in and out of the huddle has been good. He's getting guys all on the same page at the line of scrimmage."
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 have been very impressed with Juice Scruggs and could see a future starting spot for him
