By Moses Joshua 
Miles Frazier’s practice window opens as Detroit looks to rebuild depth on the offensive line
The Detroit Lions may soon have a welcome boost to their injury-depleted offensive line. Rookie guard Miles Frazier, who has been sidelined since training camp with a knee injury, officially began his 21-day practice window, marking the first step toward his potential NFL debut.
The move is a significant milestone for the promising fifth-round pick out of LSU, whom Detroit traded up to select in the 2025 draft. While the team is eager to see what the young lineman can offer, head coach Dan Campbell cautioned that Frazier will need time to ease back into the rhythm of pro football after missing several crucial months of development.
Dan Campbell on Frazier’s Return: “A Baby Fawn at the Beginning”
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Campbell used one of his trademark metaphors to describe the rookie’s upcoming adjustment period.
«“No training camp, no nothing, so this will be a little bit of a baby fawn at the beginning and then he’ll quickly grow,” Campbell said. “It’s a little bit like (Lions OL Christian) Mahogany (last year). It took a while but once we got him, he just quickly grew with practice reps.”»
Frazier, who was a three-year starter at LSU, earned a reputation for his positional versatility, playing primarily at right guard but also seeing time at left guard and right tackle. Campbell praised the rookie’s blend of strength, technique, and effort — traits that made him a priority target in the later rounds of the draft.
«“He can play the guard, he can play tackle – he did both of those at LSU,” Campbell explained. “He can sustain blocks, he’s got power, he’s pretty tenacious, he finishes. There’s a lot of things that we like about him. He’s going to need reps.”»
Lions Juggle O-Line Depth After Mahogany’s Injury
As Frazier works toward his return, the Lions continue to grapple with injuries across the offensive front. Just days before Frazier’s activation, the team placed Christian Mahogany on injured reserve after he suffered a broken bone in the Week 9 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Campbell confirmed the diagnosis earlier this week, saying:
«“For what the injury is—it’s a broken bone—relative to injuries, that’s a good thing. I think it will heal up; it’ll be stronger than it was before.”»
With Mahogany sidelined, Campbell indicated that Kayode Awosika and Trystan Colon will rotate into the lineup as Detroit tests combinations in practice.
«“(Awosika) Yode goes in, and then we may start putting (Trystan) Colon in some spots here and move these guys around today and tomorrow,” Campbell said. “We’ll start as we kind of ended that game the other day, and then maybe we’ll start moving some pieces around.”»
Looking Ahead
Frazier’s progression could play a pivotal role in stabilizing the Lions’ offensive line depth as they enter the second half of the season. While there’s no guarantee he’ll see immediate playing time, Detroit’s decision to open his practice window signals growing optimism about his recovery — and perhaps a glimpse of the future the Lions envisioned when they traded up to draft him.
If the “baby fawn” finds his footing quickly, Detroit could be getting a valuable late-season reinforcement at just the right time.