Detroit Lions rookie OL ‘very close’ to returning to practice

Detroit Lions fifth-round pick Christian Mahogany remains on the Non-Football Illness list thanks to a case of mono that cost the rookie guard his entire training camp. However, with Mahogany eligible to return to practice after Week 4, it sure sounds like the Lions plan to get him on the field soon.

“Mahogany’s very close,” coach Dan Campbell said on Saturday. “He’s very close for us to have that conversation of, what time is it to begin to start his clock?”

Mahogany returned to the building just before the preseason ended, but because he was not in football shape, the Lions opted to keep him on the NFI list to start the year. That helped open a roster spot for cuts, but it unfortunately left Mahogany sidelined from even practicing for the first four weeks of the regular season.

If the Lions opt to return him to practice, he’ll still remain on the NFI list, but it’ll start a 21-day window for his evaluation. At any time during those three weeks, the Lions can opt to activate him from the NFI list, which would place him on the 53-man roster. If, at the end of those 21 days, the Lions decide he’s not ready, they’ll have to shut him down for the entire season.

Detroit could use the extra guard depth, particularly now that they’re dealing with an injury to Frank Ragnow. Graham Glasgow is expected to take over at center for this week’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, and either Kayode Awosika or Michael Niese to take Glasgow’s spot at left guard.

Defensive tackle Brodric Martin is similarly eligible to come off the Injured Reserve list next week after suffering an injury in Detroit’s final preseason game. He, too, has been working on the sidelines with a trainer this week, and he told MLive that he hopes to return after the bye week.

“I hope so, god willing (be able to return from injured reserve when eligible),” Martin said. “Definitely. We’ll see how it goes, I really don’t know, but I hope so (to return after the bye week), I will say that.”

However, Campbell was a little more reserved when it came to Martin’s status.

“I would say Mahogany’s closer than Brodric is,” he said.

In the meantime, the Lions are in a comfortable spot at nose tackle. DJ Reader is fully back from his rehab for a torn quad, while veteran Kyle Peko has been getting a healthy amount of snaps each week through three games.