Cade

Mays

Detroit will get back it’s highly-paid free agent acquisition from this past offseason after a preseason wrist injury. The Lions declared TE Jackson Meeks, S Bishop Fitzgerald, C Seth McLaughlin, DL Mekhi Wingo, and DE Ahmed Hassanein inactive against the Packers.

The team also activated center Cade Mays from the reserve/injured list. Week 7 will be the first game of the year for both players. Branch tore his Achilles in Week 14 last year and has been out ever since. Currently in last place in the NFC North, the Lions desperately needed this infusion of talent to get their season back on track.

Questionable but fully expected to play after three full practices, Mays should add some more teeth to the Lions’ run game.

Mays seems likely to be activated off injured reserve ahead of the game given Dan Campbell’s public statements on the matter, him giving a presser today, and the trend to full sessions following the team’s Week 6 bye. It should be an upgrade for Detroit’s offensive line.

Mays and S Brian Branch (Achilles) are not yet ready to return from their injuries. Starting CB Rock Ya-Sin (hamstring) has been ruled out as well, and DL Tyleik Williams (foot) is questionable to play.

This is a big deal for fantasy purposes. The Lions signed Mays to a three-year, $25 million contract this offseason, shoring up their center position with a reliable prime-age starter. Mays injured his wrist early in August, so he has not yet taken the field on game day with his new team. The Lions’ permissive defense continues to put the offense into pass-heavy game scripts. Getting Mays back on the field will fortify Jared Goff’s protection. He was limited on Wednesday.

Branch ruptured an Achilles tendon in Week 14 last year. He is still recovering. The Lions also placed C Cade Mays (wrist) on the injured reserve/designated for return list due to his summer injury. Both players will be eligible to return after missing four games.

The Lions sought to upgrade at center this offseason and went out and signed Mays to a three-year, $25 million contract. Now, the 27-year-old lineman is expected to be sidelined for the next 8-10 weeks after fracturing a small bone in his wrist, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Campbell said that the injury is not believed to be season-ending, but it’s still a major blow to the offensive line. Former second-round pick Juice Scruggs came over in the David Montgomery trade and has played center before, so he will presumably get the first crack at taking over in Mays’ absence.

A boost for Jahmyr Gibbs! Mays is a huge power-blocking 6-foot-6, 325-pound center and should help solidify a troubled interior line for the Lions. It allows them to leave Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge at guard and makes Juice Scruggs a depth piece.

Zavala suffered the calf injury in Panthers’ Week 12 loss to the 49ers and starts out the week not practicing. Also out was C Cade Mays (ankle). Jake Curhan and Austin Corbett are in line to start for Zavala and Mays, respectively, if neither can play in Week 13.