It didn’t take long for third-year offensive guard Christian Mahogany to work his way back into the starting lineup. After missing the first two days of training camp while on the Non-Football Injury list, Mahogany was on the field for the Detroit Lions’ Friday practice, and immediately started splitting first-team reps with veteran Juice Scruggs at left guard.
Mahogany said what he was dealing with was not injury related, just referring to the absence as something internal.
Mahogany will look to keep
a hold on his starting job from last year, but the Lions brought in some serious competition for the former sixth-round pick. This offseason, the Lions traded for Scruggs as some competition and depth both at center and guard, and they signed veteran guard Ben Bartch to join the room, as well.
“Love Juice, man, he’s a pro,” coach Dan Campbell said Friday. “He’s a pro. Same guy every day, very consistent. We know he can play center. And, some of the guard stuff is, ‘Hey, Mahogany’s out right now.’”
Bartch hasn’t truly joined the competition yet, as he’s been only working in walkthroughs and individual drills, but coach Dan Campbell said he will start adding some team reps as early as next week.
Mahogany says he’s not bothered at all by the broken leg that shortened his 2025 season. He’s also hoping to build on what was a disappointing season last year—although he made sure to point out that he’ll never be fully satisfied with his play .
“I can never say I’ll feel pleased (with my play),” Mahogany said. “I’ve probably said this repetitively: Once I feel pleased, like I said, I won’t be here anymore. There won’t be a Christian Mahogany in the building. I won’t be here once I’m pleased. So I’m never pleased. I definitely didn’t play up to who I want to be and the player I want to be.”
