Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported on Tuesday that Lions center Cade Mays is eyeing a mid-October return from his broken right wrist.
That’s in line with the initial 8-10 weeks return timeline that NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared back in August.
Mays, 27, injured his wrist in training camp on Aug. 9. The short end of Mays’ 8-10 weeks return timeline would have Mays returning for the Lions‘ Week 5 date at the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 11. A full 10 weeks would have Mays returning after Detroit’s Week 6 bye for the Lions‘ Week 7 date versus the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 25.
Based on this latest update, it sounds like Lions fans can expect Mays back on the field after its date at the Cardinals and ramping up during the Lions’ Week 6 bye week ahead of its date versus the Packers.
Detroit placed Mays on injured reserve with a designation to return. Mays’ designation to return means he doesn’t count against the Lions’ 53-man roster limit.
But, any player placed on injured reserve must miss at least four games.
With Mays on the shelf, Juice Scruggs is expected to start at center.
“I think that last week of training camp really came together with him and I. It’s just reps dude. It’s just like anything else, like throwing to a receiver. It’s the same way. He’s got to feel comfortable with my cadence and my rhythm and I’ve got to feel comfortable with his rhythm of making calls and all that. It’s been good,” Lions quarterback Jared Goff said of working with Scruggs.
The Lions open their 2026 NFL season this Sunday at 1 p.m. ET when they welcome the New Orleans Saints to Ford Field. After its opener against the Saints, Detroit travels to Buffalo (Sept. 17), hosts the New York Jets (Sept. 27), visits Carolina (Oct. 4) and then heads to the Cardinals (Oct. 11).
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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions injury update: Cade Mays eyeing October return
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