Detroit Lions center Cade Mays signed a lucrative three-year, $25 million contract with the NFC North franchise after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers and a stint with the New York Giants. On Monday, Lions coach Dan Campbell revealed that Mays had suffered a wrist injury during a training camp practice session.
NFL World Bemoans Lions Center Cade Mays’ Injury
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Mays fractured a small bone in his wrist and is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks of action.
The NFL analysts on X sounded off on Mays’ injury and laid out the implications it will carry for the Lions. Here’s how they reacted:
Justin Spiro was frustrated by the team’s annual preseason injury crisis. He wrote, “Can someone tell me why half our team dies before Week 1 every year? Feels like we have a Week 6 injury report going into every preseason.”
Can someone tell me why half our team dies before Week 1 every year?
Feels like we have a Week 6 injury report going into every preseason. https://t.co/BxMRyShATy
— Justin Spiro (@DarkoStateNews) August 10, 2026
Yahoo Sports’ Hayden Winks was worried about the Lions’ offensive line performance next season in Mays’ absence. He wrote, “The Lions run game didn’t hit as hard last year, and Mays’ signing was going to be a reason why it was getting fixed. They’ll still be great, but this stings.”
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After Mays’ injury, former Lions quarterback Dan Orlovsky stressed the importance of keeping players healthy before the start of the regular season. He said, “Feels like the teams that get out of the preseason healthy are at a greater advantage than in the past…injuries piling up.”
Feels like the teams that get out of the preseason healthy are at a greater advantage than in the past…injuries piling up https://t.co/YVS496EsEf
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) August 10, 2026
Sports Illustrated’s Pete Martuneac bemoaned the numerous training camp injuries and said, “That’s brutal, man. These training camp injuries suck.”
Green Bay Packers analyst Andy Herman believes Mays’ injury will be “a massive loss for the Lions.”
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Another Packers analyst, Peter Bukowski, said, “Very bad news for an offense with its third OC in three seasons and the most pressure-sensitive QB in the NFL. Cade Mays could have really helped them too. Lions have had a nightmare offseason.”
Lions injury analyst Jimmy Liao spoke about Mays’ situation and wrote, “Cade Mays out with wrist injury for a ‘significant’ amount of time. For reference, Khalil Dorsey had a wrist last year that kept him out for 8 weeks. If Mays has the same timeline, he would be back Week 4, October 4.”
Cade Mays out with wrist injury for a “significant” amount of time.
For reference, Khalil Dorsey had a wrist last year that kept him out for 8 weeks. If Mays has the same timeline, he would be back Week 4, October 4. https://t.co/Nwy8hp69Yd
— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) August 10, 2026
Mays established his versatility during his college football career with the Georgia Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers, playing across the offensive line. He was selected No. 199 overall by the Panthers in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Mays earned a PFN Offensive Line Impact score of 74.9 last season, ranking No. 23 at his position and 116th among all offensive linemen.
Dan Campbell was bullish about his team’s chances of coping without Mays next season. The options at the center include Juice Scruggs, Michael Niese, and Seth McLaughlin.
