The Detroit Lions won't use multiple centers in this week's game against the Green Bay Packers after all.
Lions coach Dan Campbell, who left open the possibility of doing that in a news conference earlier this week, indicated in his weekly interview on 97.1 The Ticket (WXYT-FM) that Cade Mays will replace Juice Scruggs at center in his return from the broken wrist that sidelined him for the season's first five games.
"I think right now the plan − Juice has done a hell of a job for us and I’ve mentioned this before, I’m going to continue to say it, that was – thank goodness we got Juice, man," Campbell said. "He’s been outstanding for us.
"That being said, we really worked the heck out of Cade yesterday, he got some quality reps and we would like to give him a go here and not make that move. And then obviously Juice is starting off swinging between center and guard, as needed at center and some guard. But yeah, we’d like to just rip this Band-Aid off of Cade. I thought he had some good work yesterday. I thought he looked pretty good."
The Lions signed Mays to be their starting center in free agency, and Mays took nearly all of the first-team reps at the position in training camp before he broke his right wrist in early August.
Scruggs played well the first five weeks − he's the second-highest graded center in the NFL by Pro Football Focus − and the Lions have gotten good play across their offensive line.
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Campbell and offensive line coach Hank Fraley debated how to work Mays into the rotation in recent days, and Scruggs said Tuesday he was playing both guard and center in practice.
Asked about possibly losing his starting job despite his solid play, Scruggs said Tuesday, Oct. 20, he would do whatever was best for the team.
“It's not my decision," he said. "It's out of my hands. It’s up to them to make a decision, and whatever decision they make, that's the decision we roll with. And there's no egos on this team. So that's one thing I think we all are on board with, that leave your ego outside the building.”
Campbell said previously Scruggs could compete for time at left guard once Mays returns, but starting left guard Christian Mahogany also has played well this season.
It's possible the Lions use both in a guard rotation against the Packers, but Campbell said rotating centers was out.
"I don’t see us doing that," he said. "... A guard and a center are totally different. That guy’s touching the ball, the snap count’s different, everything. The snap, the timing, the calls, the quarterback’s comfort, just with one guy over and over."
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: Detroit Lions ready to 'rip this Band-Aid off,' start Cade Mays at center