Center Cade Mays won't get to play against his old team, the Carolina Panthers, this week, but the Detroit Lions' biggest free-agent addition of the offseason is nearing a return from the broken right wrist that has sidelined him since early in training camp.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday, Sept. 28, that the team has targeted a post-bye week return from injured reserve for Mays, though he did not want to put a firm timetable on when Mays would be back on the field.
The Lions (2-1) visit the Panthers this week and the Arizona Cardinals next week before their Oct. 18 bye.
Players on IR must miss at least four games.
"That was kind of always
the goal was, man, can we get him after the bye," Campbell said. "He’s doing a good job right now, but I don’t’ want to put a timetable just yet on him."
Mays, 27, played most of his first four seasons with the Panthers and was the team's primary starting center the past two years. Mays briefly signed with the New York Giants practice squad in 2024, then re-signed with the Panthers.
Juice Scruggs has played every snap at center in Mays' absence in the Lions' first three games of 2026.
Campbell offered injury updates on two other players Monday.
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Amon-Ra St. Brown: 'You ask him, he's fine'
On receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who played just 48 of a possible 65 snaps in Sunday's win over the New York Jets and left the field slowly several times, Campbell said, "He just had a little something. I don’t think it’s a huge thing."
"Our guys today had him checked out," Campbell said. "You know Saint, he don’t want to get anything checked out. He’s fine. You ask him, he’s fine. So I think we’ll be OK there."
Thomas Harper: Out for season?
As for safety Thomas Harper, placed on injured reserve Saturday with an ankle injury, Campbell said he's not sure if Harper will play again this year.
"I don’t know with the Harper deal," Campbell said. "We’ll see. He’s IR right now, so we’ll see on that. I just know he won’t be here for four weeks or whatever for sure."
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 injury updates: Cade Mays still out, Amon-Ra St. Brown 'OK'
