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Lions Open G Christian Mahogany’s Practice Window

December 10th, 2025 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Left guards are beginning to dominate our late-afternoon coverage window. In addition to Broncos LG Ben Powers returning to practice amid a lengthy IR stay, the Lions will see their starting option do the same.

Christian Mahogany is back at practice, with KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson noting the first-year starter is in the IR-return window. Like Powers in Denver, Detroit will have three weeks to activate Mahogany or lose him to season-ending IR.

Unlike Powers, Mahogany has only missed five games. The second-year blocker started the first eight Lions contests before going down with a knee injury. This will certainly be welcome news for a Detroit team in the thick of the wild-card race — and one that just saw Frank Ragnow‘s comeback attempt fall by the wayside.

Detroit has used Kayode Awosika, who has been with the team as a backup since 2022, as Mahogany’s replacement. Mahogany resided as a backup last season, with the Lions rostering Ragnow and Kevin Zeitler. Prior to Ragnow’s retirement, Zeitler defected to the Titans in free agency. Pro Football Focus has graded Mahogany fairly well in his first real go-round as a starter, ranking him 31st among guards this season. PFF slots Awosika 47th, which is still passable since 80 guards qualify as regulars this season.

This is not exactly good news on the level of Ragnow’s surprise unretirement, but after a hamstring injury surfaced during his physical, no such effort will take place this season. That scenario would have given the Lions an option of sliding center Graham Glasgow to guard, where he has extensive experience. Now, Glasgow will stay put as Mahogany readies to return.

The Lions also claimed defensive back Jalen Mills off waivers from the Texans, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. To make room on the 53-man roster, Detroit waived tight end Hayden Rucci. A 92-game starter during a career that has included extensive time at both safety and cornerback, Mills has played in four games (starting one) this season. Houston waived him Tuesday.

Mills, 31, has not played regularly at corner since 2022. Making a successful transition to safety, Mills has still seen regular time in the slot over the past three seasons — spent with the Patriots, Jets and Texans. Houston signed Mills to a one-year, $1.26MM deal; Detroit will be responsible for just less than $300K.

This comes after Brian Branch suffered an Achilles tear in Week 14; the standout defender already underwent surgery. Kerby Joseph has not played since Week 6, leaving the Lions in a tough spot. They are also down Terrion Arnold for the season. Joseph is aiming to return before season’s end.

Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order

December 9th, 2025 at 11:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

Week 14’s action brought about a few notable updates to the standings at both ends of the NFL’s conferences. Another four teams are officially out of playoff contention, while wins by Tennessee and New Orleans could prove to be rather important once the campaign has ended.

The Jets, Browns, Falcons and Commanders were eliminated from the postseason through the results of recent days. Of course, each of those teams have been out of the running for a playoff push for some time now. Still, that group will be worth watching closely over the closing four weeks of the season as the top-10 order for Day 1 of the draft gradually comes into focus.

Uncertainty regarding the quarterback class of 2026 will no doubt remain a talking point over the coming months. Fernando Mendoza strengthened his case to be QB1 in April’s draft, although it remains to be seen if other top signal-callers like Dante Moore and Ty Simpson will turn pro or elect to remain in school for one more season. Decisions on those fronts will be central storylines carrying significant implications for the teams near the top of the order which find themselves in need of a quarterback investment.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.

Here is an updated look at the first-round order:

  1. New York Giants (2-11)
  2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
  3. Tennessee Titans (2-11)
  4. Cleveland Browns (3-10)
  5. New Orleans Saints (3-10)
  6. Washington Commanders (3-10)
  7. New York Jets (3-10)
  8. Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
  9. Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
  10. Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
  11. Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
  12. Miami Dolphins (6-7)
  13. Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
  14. Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
  15. Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
  16. Carolina Panthers (7-6)
  17. Detroit Lions (8-5)
  18. New York Jets (via Colts)
  19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
  20. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
  21. Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
  22. Houston Texans (8-5)
  23. Chicago Bears (9-4)
  24. Buffalo Bills (9-4)
  25. Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
  26. San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
  27. Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
  28. Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
  29. Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
  30. New England Patriots (11-2)
  31. Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
  32. Denver Broncos (11-2)

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/25

December 9th, 2025 at 9:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jones was waived by the Chargers on Monday and quickly found himself joining one of the NFL’s best defenses in Houston. The Texans recently lost Tim Settle to a season-ending injury, so Jones will help fill his snaps in the defensive line rotation.

Lions To Bring Back CB Arthur Maulet

December 9th, 2025 at 12:35pm CST by Connor Byrne

Two weeks after waiving Arthur Maulet, the Lions are reuniting with the cornerback. Maulet will rejoin the Lions’ active roster, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

A veteran of several teams, including the Ravens from 2023-24, the well-traveled Maulet first joined the Lions’ practice squad on Oct. 8. They were dealing with injuries to cornerbacks D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Khalil Dorsey at the time. Maulet went on to appear in six games after that, tallying 14 tackles and an interception.

With Reed, Arnold, and Dorsey healthy heading into a Week 13 Thanksgiving showdown with Green Bay, the Lions moved on from Maulet. However, the playoff contenders’ secondary has taken a beating since then.

Arnold is done for the season as a result of a shoulder injury that bothered him throughout the year. The Lions suffered an even worse blow when star safety Brian Branch tore his Achilles in a Week 14 win over the Cowboys.

Detroit addressed its safety depth to some degree with the signing of veteran Damontae Kazee to its practice squad on Monday. The team is now making a more aggressive move in committing an active roster spot to the 32-year-old Maulet ahead of a Week 15 meeting with the high-flying Rams, currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Maulet will rejoin Reed, Dorsey, Amik Robertson, and Rock Ya-Sin to comprise the 8-5 Lions’ cornerback group as they attempt to rally for a playoff berth.

Lions Sign S Damontae Kazee

December 8th, 2025 at 1:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

In need of safety depth, the Lions have found a veteran late in the year. Damontae Kazee is set to join Detroit for the stretch run.

Kazee is signing with the Lions on their practice squad, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. If all goes well, he will be on the team’s active roster in short order. Detroit lost Brian Branch to an Achilles tear on Thursday, ending his season. The Kazee signing has since been announced by head coach Dan Campbell.

Of course, Kazee will not be tasked with replacing Branch’s production or his place in the starting lineup. Nevertheless, he could provide the Lions with veteran depth in the secondary and on special teams. Kazee has made 111 regular season appearances in the NFL, including four earlier this season with the Browns.

Last month, Cleveland released Kazee. He remained on the open market since then, but this Detroit deal will allow for the ninth-year veteran to carve out a role on his latest team. The Lions are currently 8-5, good for third in the NFC North. Detroit is on the outside of the playoff picture right now, and inconsistent play on defense (fueled in no small part by injuries, just like in 2024) has played a key role.

The Lions rank mid-pack in a number of defensive categories this year, and they are 19th in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed. Losing Branch will hinder the team’s ability to improve in a number of areas down the stretch, but managing to replace him represents a major goal for the next four games. Kazee – who has made 63 starts, many of which came early in his career – will look to contribute in some capacity. Doing so would provide a boost to his chances of landing a deal relatively soon in free agency come the spring.

Lions LT Taylor Decker To Contemplate Retirement In Offseason

December 7th, 2025 at 9:47am CST by Rory Parks

As a result of the lucrative extension he signed in July 2024, Lions left tackle Taylor Decker is under contract through 2027, but he may not even get to the penultimate year of that deal. Per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Decker will consider retirement in the upcoming offseason.

In the spring, Decker underwent surgery to relieve pain in his shoulder caused by bone spurs in his rotator cuff. He began training camp on the PUP list as a result, and though he suited up for the start of the regular season, he did miss two games earlier this year due to a shoulder ailment.

Decker, 32, is now in his 10th professional season, though it has not been a smooth ride. This spring’s shoulder procedure was the fifth major surgery of his career, and he has also dealt with finger, ankle, toe, MCL, and pectoral injuries. He has also undergone nerve ablations on his vertebrae to dull pain in his neck, and he played in fewer than 10 games in both 2017 and 2021.

The 2024 Pro Bowler has maintained his usual strong standard of play this year, though he tells Birkett that he struggled to lift his arm above 90 degrees earlier this season. While his mobility in that regard has improved, the pain has not subsided, and he has received eight steroid injections to help manage that pain.

He does not expect to go under the knife again in 2026, but if he is forced to do so, that could nudge him closer to retirement. Even without a forthcoming operation, the injuries he has already experienced and his desire to be with his young family could put an end to his playing days.

“I think I can maintain this level of play for five more years if I wanted to,” Decker said. “But it’s all the other variables. Like, what are you willing to put your body through? What are you willing to put your family through? What time are you willing to spend? Stuff like that.”

Birkett’s entire piece is worth a read for Lions fans in particular, as Decker candidly discusses all of the factors that will influence his decision. From an on-field perspective, Detroit would obviously be loathe to lose the Ohio State product, who has anchored its blindside since 2016.

The Lions lost accomplished center (and Decker’s good friend) Frank Ragnow to an early retirement in June, largely due to health and family reasons. Though Ragnow recently tried to unretire and return to Detroit to assist in the club’s playoff push, he could not pass a physical and will therefore be unable to play in 2025.

Decker, who has already accomplished his goal of playing 10 years in the NFL and who has amassed over $100MM in career earnings, said he expects his retirement decision to be final whenever he makes it.

“When this is done, I’m done,” he said. “When I’m done playing football, then it’s like, you can never have it back. You’re gone. It’s over. And I’ve played football since second grade. At this point, almost a third of my life has been on the Lions, so that’s a big decision. So that’s not one that’s going to be like, it’s not going to be spur of the moment or drop of the hat. And I do not want it to be an emotional decision. I want to think about it logically.”

Obviously, Decker’s retirement would move offensive tackle close to the top of the Lions’ offseason needs.

Lions S Brian Branch Suffers Torn Achilles

December 5th, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Lions fear that star safety Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles in the team’s Thursday night win over the Cowboys, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

It was reported earlier this morning (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) that Branch had been diagnosed with an Achilles injury pending further tests, stirring fears of a tear that would end his season. That will indeed be the case, as it is far too late in the season for Branch to rush back to the field.

The third-year safety limped off the field late in Thursday’s game and was carted back to the locker room. The Lions initially announced that Branch injured his ankle. After the game, he was seen in a walking boot and crutches (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press), and head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that the injury was believed to be serious.

Branch’s absence will be a huge loss for the Lions defense, especially considering the myriad of other injuries in their secondary. Cornerback Terrion Arnold is out for the season after shoulder surgery and safety Kerby Joseph has not played since Week 6. Two other cornerbacks, D.J. Reed and Ennis Rakestraw, have also missed a significant amount of time.

Branch was one of the few reasons the unit stayed afloat as long as it did. Though the Lions have given up at least 325 passing yards twice in their last three games, they also held their previous three opponents to under 200 yards through the air. Detroit only won three of those six games, putting them at 8-5 and in third place in the NFC North. They trail the Bears (9-3) and Packers (8-3-1) with one win against the former and two losses against the other. The Lions will go to Chicago in Week 18 for a game that could have huge playoff implications.

They will have to make that trip without Branch, who has started all but one game this year. Here are his ranks on the Lions defense: second in passes defended (nine), third in tackles (75) and fifth in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (five). In addition to his official counting stats, Branch also has a career-low 4.9% missed tackle rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and he has done all of this playing a demanding, versatile role with 282 snaps as a free safety, 236 in the box, and 149 in the slot.

With all of that in mind, it is clear that no one player can replace Branch’s multidimensional contributions. The Lions will have to do so in the aggregate, but with so many other defensive backs missing, it could get complicated. Second-year safety Thomas Harper took on Joseph’s more traditional free safety role for six games before he was supplanted by Avonte Maddox on Thursday night. Branch’s injury will likely bring Harper back into the mix. The Lions can use more three-linebacker looks to take care of Branch’s box snaps, and Amik Robertson could slide into the slot when needed. However, with Arnold down, Detroit would then need a No. 2 outside cornerback for nickel looks. That will likely be Rock Ya-Sin.

Branch will now face a long road to recovering, likely with the hopes of returning by the start of the 2026 season. Achilles recoveries have gotten shorter and shorter in recent years with some players opting for a SpeedBridge procedure to accelerate their return timeline. But a major December injury could make it difficult for an athletic, physical player like Branch to get back to full strength in time for the regular season.

Lions Place TE Brock Wright On Injured Reserve

December 4th, 2025 at 5:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Lions placed tight end Brock Wright on injured reserve after an injury to his trachea, per a team announcement.

The move comes three weeks after Sam LaPorta went down with a back injury that is expected to end his season. Wright already had a 51% snap share before LaPorta’s injury; in the last two weeks, that number has been over 80%. The fifth-year tight end has not been able to replace LaPorta’s receiving production, or even come close. On 11 targets in his last two games, Wright only has five catches for 37 yards and zero touchdowns. He is still a reliable presence in the run game and earned the two highest run-blocking grades of the season in those matchups.

The extent of Wright’s injury remains unclear. He was listed with a neck injury on this week’s practice report and described the injury as similar to Frank Ragnow‘s fractured cartilage in 2020, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Ragnow only missed two games, but Wright’s absence will be at least four.

That will force the Lions to go to the next man up once again. Ross Dwelley and Anthony Firkser are listed as the second- and third-team tight ends on the depth chart, but they have only played 100 and 18 offensive snaps this year, respectively. Dwelley saw a huge bump in playing time in Week 13, but does not offer much as a pass-catcher with just three receptions in his last three seasons and 10 in his last five.

Detroit uses plenty of offensive formations with two tight ends, so they may call on undrafted rookie Zach Horton or four-year veteran Giovanni Ricci to take on some game day action. That will not be the case in Week 14, as the Lions did not elevate either from the practice squad for Thursday’s game. They may be planning to reduce their usage of two-tight end sets and/or call on sixth offensive lineman Dan Skipper as an extra blocker.

Rather than use Horton or Ricci this week, the Lions opted to sign cornerback Nick Whiteside and elevate wide receiver Malik Cunningham from the practice squad. Whiteside has appeared in five games this season, while Cunningham will be making his Lions debut to add depth to their depleted receiving corps.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/25

December 2nd, 2025 at 8:29pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Several NFL teams made minor roster on Tuesday as they prepare for crucial Week 14 games with major playoff implications. Here are the latest updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

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