ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit Lions center Cade Mays suffered a wrist injury during a recent training camp practice and will miss a "significant period of time," according to head coach Dan Campbell.
A source told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport that Mays fractured a small bone in his wrist that is expected to sideline him roughly eight to 10 weeks.
Campbell wouldn't offer a timeline on Mays' return when he spoke to reporters but joked that "he'll be ready for the playoffs."
Campbell also announced that Lions running back Isiah Pacheco is dealing with an MCL sprain and will miss some time. Campbell said he expects Pacheco to return before Detroit's Week 1 home contest against the New Orleans Saints and that he's "not concerned" about the injury.
"Of course, you hate it. I hate it for him because I felt like he was having a good camp and he had grown so much in our system just since spring," Campbell said of Mays' injury. "In that regard, yeah, and for us, too, but at the same time, there, again, there's a reason why we have Juice [Scruggs] here, too, and some of these other guys and they're going to get a look."
This is a significant blow for the team as Mays was targeted in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent to help the unit after the Lions' offensive line struggled last season. He spent his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers as a sixth-round selection in the 2022 NFL draft out of Tennessee. His 94.3% pass block win rate ranked 20th among qualified centers last season, while allowing just one sack.
Without Mays, the Lions are expected to try Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Michael Niese at center as they attempt to find the best fit at the position before the season opener against New Orleans on Sept. 13.
"Look, we're going to find the best five," Campbell said of the offensive line. "We will [identify] the best five and we're trying to find that before camp starts, but look, if this goes into the season it does, but at some point, we will find the best five and where they belong and they'll be ready."
