The Detroit Lions have just three training camp practices and one preseason game remaining in their offseason before they need to make final cuts on Sunday. On Tuesday, they announced they signed center Gus Hartwig to their 90-man roster and placed veteran linebacker Damone Clark on injured reserve.
Hartwig was a 48-game starter at Purdue, and after going undrafted in 2025, he signed with the New York Jets. Unfortunately, he suffered an early camp leg injury and spent his rookie season on injured
reserve. He began the offseason with the Jets, but was released after spring camp. Primarily a zone-based center, Hartwig won with intelligence and lateral foot quickness at Purdue, but, similar to Lions reserve center Seth McLaughlin, he struggled with his anchor against power in pass protection.
With starting center Cade Mays out with a wrist injury, and reserve center Michael suffering a leg injury—and was spotted on crutches in the locker room—in last Saturday’s preseason game, the Lions only had two true centers on the roster: presumed interim starter Juice Scruggs and McLaughlin. The addition of Hartwig will allow the Lions to roll three offensive lines for the final week of training camp, and if he impresses, he could earn a spot on the practice squad.
By placing Clark on injured reserve, he will be lost for the season unless the team reaches an injury settlement with him at a later date. However, with coach Dan Campbell noting that Clark is “done indefinitely,” it’s also likely he will spend the season on Detroit’s injured reserve.
Clark opened training camp amongst the Lions’ top-6 linebackers and looked like he had a real chance to contribute. However, while he has been sidelined, the Lions signed Devin White and have seen several reserve linebackers level up their game, including Erick Hunter, Joe Bachie, and Troy Reeder. With Clark now out of the picture—and if rookie Jimmy Rolder starts the season on injured reserve/return—it could open up a great opportunity for one of the three reserves to find their way onto the 53-man roster.
