The Detroit Lions have only three days to get healthy before facing Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.
That makes Mondayโs initial Week 2 injury report a little more interesting than usual.
Detroit listed four players on its first report ahead of Thursday Night Football, and three of them are offensive linemen. Christian Mahogany and rookie right tackle Blake Miller were listed as non-participants, while starting center Juice Scruggs was limited.
The good news is that defensive back Christian Izien, who missed Week 1, was listed as a full participant.
One important qualifier: Detroit held only a walkthrough Monday, meaning the participation levels are estimates of what each player would have done in a full practice, according to the Lionsโ official Week 2 practice report.
Detroit Lions Week 2 Injury Report
| Player | Position | Injury | Monday* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Mahogany | OL | Hip | NP |
| Blake Miller | T | Knee | NP |
| Juice Scruggs | OL | Knee | LP |
| Christian Izien | DB | Groin | FP |
NP: Did Not Participate
LP: Limited Participation
FP: Full Participation
*Detroit conducted a walkthrough Monday. Participation designations are estimates.
Offensive Line Suddenly Bears Watching
Mahogany being listed with a hip injury matches Dan Campbellโs postgame indication that the issue may not actually be the knee injury Detroit originally announced Sunday. The initial scan was encouraging, but Campbell stopped well short of declaring Mahogany in the clear.
Now add Miller and Scruggs.
That gives Detroit injuries at three-fifths of its starting offensive line heading into a game against Buffalo on a short week.
Millerโs knee issue is particularly notable because there was no indication during Sundayโs overtime victory that Detroitโs rookie right tackle was dealing with a significant problem. Mondayโs estimated absence makes his status worth watching Tuesday and Wednesday.
Scruggs being limited is also important. Detroit was already operating with little natural center depth in Week 1, something we examined when the Lions made the risky decision to enter the opener without another true center on the game-day roster.
Scruggs ultimately handled the assignment well after winning Detroitโs temporary starting-center job during the preseason. Losing him, even temporarily, would force another adjustment along a line that has already undergone significant change.
Thursday Leaves Almost No Recovery Time
This is the downside of the quick turnaround.
Detroit beat New Orleans 31-30 in overtime Sunday, meaning the Lions played more than four quarters less than 100 hours before their next kickoff.
Buffalo gets the same short week, but Detroit now has several starting offensive linemen whose availability must be sorted out quickly.
The Lions visit the Bills at 8:15 p.m. ET Thursday, which will also mark Buffaloโs home opener and the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium, according to the Billsโ official 2026 schedule.
Izienโs full participation is the cleanest positive development on Mondayโs report. He entered Week 1 with a groin injury and was unavailable against New Orleans, so his apparent progress could provide needed help in a secondary that allowed Tyler Shough to throw for 410 yards.
The offensive line is another story.
Mondayโs report is only an estimate, so there is no reason to sound alarms yet.
But when three starting offensive linemen show up on the injury report four days before playing Josh Allen in Buffalo, it gets your attention.
Tuesday should tell us considerably more.
