Big news rolling out of Detroit: Coach Dan Campbell confirmed both safety Brian Branch and offensive lineman Cade Mays are set to make their 2026 debuts against the Green Bay Packers this week. This isn’t just a couple of guys coming back, we’re talking about Branch returning to the field for the first time since that brutal torn Achilles in early December and Mays finally suiting up for the Lions after a wrist fracture derailed his early training camp.
The Returns: Branch and Mays Are Back, But How Much Will They Play?
So, the good news is both Branch and Mays are expected to be active on Sunday. That’s huge, right? But Campbell also made it clear they’re still figuring out the exact workload for each player. For Branch, the expectation is he won’t be playing a full 70-snap game. Campbell said, “I think that’d be asking a lot to say he’s going to play 70 plays, but we feel like there’s,we do feel like he can handle quite a bit here.” The coaching staff is pushing him in practice this week, especially before a day off, to get a better read on his capacity. They’re aiming to have a “really good idea by the time we hit the game.” It sounds like he’ll still see a significant amount of snaps, which is great for a guy coming off such a serious injury.
The Juice Scruggs Conundrum: A Good Problem For The Lions’ O-Line
Things get a little more complicated for Cade Mays, though, especially at the center position. Campbell explained that rotating guards is one thing, but a center? That’s someone “constantly touching the football,” which makes rotation tougher. “We’re still back-and-forth on what do we do with him,” Campbell admitted, wondering if they should “work he and Juice (Scruggs) in and out.” And honestly, you can see why it’s a tough call because Juice Scruggs has been balling out. He’s currently ranked as the No. 2 graded center per PFF, and Campbell is straight-up impressed with his play and growth.
Campbell didn’t mince words about Scruggs, saying, “That’s the hard thing, Juice is playing pretty good football for us right now. He’s done a good job, he’s gotten better every week, and Juice is a freakin’ team guy.” The coach even acknowledged “there’s definitely an argument to keep him rolling” given how well he’s performed. It’s a classic good problem to have, right? The long-term plan is for Mays to eventually settle back into the starting center role, with Scruggs possibly moving to compete at left guard. For now, though, Campbell is just stoked to have options, mentioning Christian Mahogany’s good weeks too: “we’ve got some guys. We’ve got a pretty good crew there to go with and get better as the season goes.”
So, barring any unforeseen setbacks between now and Sunday, both Branch and Mays are lacing up against the Packers. It’s going to be fascinating to watch how Campbell manages their workloads, especially that center spot with Scruggs playing so well. Talk about high stakes right out of the bye week!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pride of Detroit.
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