The Lions barely scraped by the Saints in an insane 31-30 overtime thriller on Sunday, but there is no time to even breathe before heading to Baltimore for Thursday’s road game. Now, the first injury report drops, and it is a gut punch: left guard Christian Mahogany and right tackle Blake Miller both would have missed practice today. It is an estimated report since the team did not actually hold a practice, but man, those names sting.
The O-Line Is Already Hurting After Sunday’s Brawl
It is a brutal reality check that Christian Mahogany, who went down early in that Saints game with a hip injury, would have been out. Ben Bartch stepped up to replace him, after competing for the job this summer, but you hate to see a new starter like Mahogany sidelined so fast. The offensive line is the backbone of any offense, and losing a key piece, even for an estimated practice absence, sends shivers down your spine on a short week. This unit needs to be gelling, not patching holes right after a physical overtime battle.
And then there is Blake Miller. The man played every single snap against the Saints with a knee issue. Every. Single. Snap. That is grit, it is incredible toughness, but it also screams trouble for a short week of recovery, especially if he would have missed practice. Playing through pain is one thing, but can he really be at 100 percent just four days later against a tough Baltimore defense? That is a huge question mark for the right side of the line, and it leaves you wondering how effective he can truly be.
Short Week, Big Problems: The Baltimore Road Ahead
Beyond the tackles, center Juice Scruggs is also dealing with a knee issue, meaning he would have been a limited participant today. Cornerback Christian Izien, thankfully, would have been a full participant despite a groin issue, which is a small silver lining. But let us be real, going from an overtime battle on Sunday to a road game in Baltimore on Thursday? That is asking a ton from these guys, especially with the offensive line already battered and bruised. This is not just about missing practice; it is about recovery and getting bodies ready for a brutal opponent on the road.
The Lions are headed to Baltimore on Thursday, and after that grueling 31-30 win, their bodies are clearly feeling it. With key offensive linemen banged up and a short week for recovery, this road game against Baltimore is shaping up to be a true test of this team’s depth and resilience. Can they recover fast enough, or will these early season bumps prove too much for the short week against a tough AFC opponent? We are about to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
Leave a Reply