Lions down two starting linemen for Week 2 vs. BUF

Miller will clearly have a chance to step in right away as the bookend on the other side of Penei Sewell, it did seem like the Lions were leaning towards having Sewell play left tackle this offseason. Rookie tackles are not exactly a dependable source of solid play right away, but Miller’s career at Clemson leads us to believe he’ll have a decent floor right away, which should help the Lions pass protection and run game this season.

Miller (6'7/317) enters the big leagues as a grizzled four-year starter who anchored the Tigers’ right tackle spot for the majority of his collegiate career. Somehow amassing more than 3,700 career snaps, Miller’s college days culminated with a 78.5 overall PFF grade in 2025 and an 83.5 pass-blocking mark, continuing a year-to-year climb in protection efficiency. He allowed pressure on just 1.8 percent of his 2025 pass-blocking reps while surrendering only two sacks, underscoring his consistency protecting the edge. Miller pairs production with outstanding athletic traits, posting a near-perfect 9.97 Relative Athletic Score highlighted by a 5.04s 40-yard dash, 32-inch vertical, 9’5” broad jump and 32 bench reps, placing him among the most explosive linemen in the class. His combination of length (34 ¼” arms), power and movement skills allows him to mirror speed rushers in pass protection while generating displacement in the run game with strong leg drive. With elite testing numbers, multi-year starting experience and elite athleticism, Miller projects as an immediate Lions starter. His selection would seem to mean Penei Sewell mans the blindside.

The Lions’ offensive line continues to work its way through injuries. Sewell has already played through a few of his own, and will likely be on the field this week against the Bears, in what should be a fantasy-friendly game environment. Lions LG Christian Mahogany (illness) was also sidelined, as was his backup, OG Kayode Awosika (illness).

Decker has been gutting it out on game day for months now. Lions C Graham Glasgow missed Thursday and Friday’s practices with a knee injury. Lions OG Christian Mahogany practiced fully twice before downgrading to limited on Friday. He is attempting to return from injured reserve after fracturing a fibula in Week 9.

Mahogany was one of three sneaky Detroit offensive line injuries that held down their running game against the Vikings, with Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell also missing time. Campbell said it will be “touch and go” for both tackles this week in the lead-up to Detroit’s game against the Commanders, and that they likely wouldn’t practice Wednesday.

Few mid-tier Power Five programs have produced NFL interior offensive linemen with the consistency that Boston College has over the years. Mahogany (6’033/314) was a low three-star high school prospect who took a redshirt in 2019 before starting 11 games at left guard in 2020, allowing three sacks and 15 pressures while recording a respectable 76.0 pass block grade. It all came together for him the following year allowing an impressive seven pressures, one sack and one penalty in 317 pass sets. The Second Team All-ACC LG would have his hopes dashed due to an offseason ACL tear that cost him the entire 2022 season. He returned to start every game in 2023, but struggled in the early going allowing four pressures with four penalties in each of his first four contests. Mahogany finished resolutely though, allowing just three pressure and one penalty over the final eight games while earning a formidable 83rd% pass block grade for the second season in a row. His 0.3% pressure rate over 368 pass snaps, and 0.8% blown run block rate are both upper echelon marks for interior offensive linemen. The Boston College titan didn’t earn a Senior Bowl invite, but unleashed an eye opening Combine performance with 90th+ percentile marks in both jumps, the shuttle run and the 10-yard split. He also sports massive 10.5” hands with vice grip-like latching ability. A true bully who wants to brutalize opponents, Mahogany has a pugnacious demeanor to his game and will happily plant defenders into the ground if given the opportunity.

Going into the 2022 season, Mahogany (6'3/318) was viewed as one of top returning offensive linemen. Unfortunately for him and the Eagles, he won’t have an opportunity to play this season. He told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that he tore his ACL and will be out for the year. He quietly had surgery shortly thereafter by New York Giants team physician Dr. Scott Rodeo. Ranked by Mel Kiper Jr as the number two guard for the 2023 NFL Draft, he likely will return for the 2023 season.

Mohogany (6'5/305) cited BC’s blocking schemes -- plus a more small-school atmosphere -- as partial reason for his commitment, here. Rivals ranks the Paramus, New Jersey, native as the No. 30 prospect in the state for the 2019 cycle. Outlet analyst Adam Friedman is a fan of Mahogany’s frame as well as his quickness and believes that the offensive lineman will give the Boston College strength and conditioning program plenty to work with over the coming years.