By Moses Joshua 
Detroit faces major offensive line challenges as injuries pile up ahead of critical Week 10 matchup
The Detroit Lions’ resilience is about to be tested once again. A day after losing starting left guard Christian Mahogany to a long-term leg injury, head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that the team could also be without both starting tackles — Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker — when they face the Washington Commanders next week at Northwest Stadium.
Offensive Line Depth Tested to Its Limit
Campbell revealed that Sewell (upper-body) and Decker (knee) were both injured during Sunday’s 27–24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. While neither issue appears to be season-ending, Campbell doesn’t expect either lineman to practice on Wednesday — and their status for Sunday remains uncertain.
“Nothing new, other than nothing sounds long-term, which is good. It’s good news,” Campbell said. “I think it’s more about, are they going to be able to practice this week and are they going to be able to play this week? But nothing beyond that, I don’t feel like, as of right now.”
The injuries come at the worst possible time for Detroit, whose offensive front has already been dealing with inconsistency and depth concerns. Losing three starters in the trenches could force Campbell and offensive coordinator John Morton to get creative with their game plan against a Washington defense known for its physicality.
Mahogany’s Recovery Timeline
Christian Mahogany’s setback initially appeared to be a knee issue, but Campbell later clarified that the rookie guard suffered a broken bone in his leg. While the news is still serious, the coach expressed optimism about Mahogany’s long-term outlook.
“For what the injury is — it’s a broken bone, so … relative to injuries, that’s a good thing,” Campbell explained. “I think that thing will heal up, and it’ll be stronger than it was before.”
Campbell added that Mahogany could potentially return in late December, giving the Lions a chance to regain some stability on the offensive line before the playoffs — assuming they can weather the current storm.
Next Men Up
With Mahogany out, Kayode Awosika stepped in against the Vikings. The versatile lineman, who has been with the team since 2022 and has seven career starts, is likely to get the first crack at filling the void. Still, Campbell stopped short of naming him the full-time replacement, noting that Detroit will explore multiple options, including Kingsley Eguakun, Michael Niese, and Trystan Colon.
“I see Yode competing at one of those spots. … Listen, we’re looking at everything. We are,” Campbell said. “Like I said, we’ll see where we’re at. But I don’t feel like this is — I can’t say one way or another whether we’re going to make a move (at the trade deadline).”
Moving Forward
The Lions (5–3) entered their bye week looking like legitimate NFC contenders, but injuries have quickly complicated that outlook. If Sewell and Decker can’t go against the Commanders, Detroit could be forced to field a heavily patched-up line in front of quarterback Jared Goff — a risky scenario for a team that’s already struggled with protection and third-down execution.
Campbell’s tone was calm but realistic, signaling that the Lions will rely on their trademark grit to get through this rough stretch. With the NFC playoff race tightening, Detroit’s ability to adapt in the trenches could define the rest of its season.