On Monday, Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell announced the impending return of two key players. Barring some unforeseen setback,starting center Cade Mays and safety Brian Branch will make their 2026 debuts on Sunday afternoon against the Green Bay Packers.
For Branch, his return is pretty simple. While it sounds like the Lions will limit his reps a bit, Campbell seemed confident the Pro Bowl safety can take on a significant role, and his presence will be welcomed in a secondary that has struggled through
five games.
Mays’ situations is far more complicated. For one, unlike safety, it’s hard to just give a center a situational role to ease him back in. A team wants to keep their center the same throughout the game for a ton of reasons, but none more important that keeping that exchange between center and quarterback consistent.
“We’re still back-and-forth on what do we do with him,” Campbell said of Mays. “Do we work him and Juice (Scruggs) in and out? Do we—the center position, it’s a little different than a guard. That’s somebody that’s constantly touching the football.”
Making the transition even tougher is the fact that current Lions starting center Juice Scruggs is playing very good football in Mays’ absence. It’s unlikely that Scruggs takes the starting job from Mays, but I’m sure it does bring up thoughts of, “Why mess with something that’s working?”
So today’s Question of the Day is:
How should the Lions handle Cade Mays’ return?
My answer: Let’s establish what the Lions should do once they believe Mays is fully healthy and ready for a full share of snaps. At that point, I don’t think there should be any question that Mays should be the starting center. Scruggs may be playing well, but Mays is better. There’s a reason Mays was a costly free agent and Scruggs was part of a trade for a starting running back. I don’t think the perception of these players should change based on a five-game sample size that includes a very rough game from Scruggs vs. the Bills.
But what’s a good way to ease Mays in this week? Do you actually give him a few drives at center? Do you have him simulate make protection calls from the sideline? Do you get him out there as an extra lineman in some formations? Or do you just relegate him to some special teams snaps to get him on the field, get used to contact, and re-evaluate next week?
I’m leaning toward that last option. I really don’t like the idea of rotating Mays in at center for a drive or two or three. It just seems like too much of a risk. Either make him your starting center or find another way to get him out there. The best way to do that is give him some special teams reps or jumbo package responsibilities, and then make him the starting center in Week 8 against the Vikings’ tough defense. It’s not an ideal spot to throw him in, but I don’t think there is an ideal option out there.
What do you think? How would you handle Cade Mays’ return? Share your ideas in the comment section below.
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