Detroit — Detroit Lions guard Christian Mahogany was carted off the field with an apparent leg injury with 7:48 remaining in the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field on Sunday.
Mahogany’s leg whipped off that of Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond and he immediately went to the turf before getting carted off. He was spotted leaving the locker room in crutches and Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters that he’ll be out “a long time” but could return at some point this season.
“We’ll have to see, I’ll know tomorrow, but look, Mahogany’s gonna be out a while. Long time, probably,” Campbell said. Asked to clarify if that meant season-ending, Campbell said, “maybe not that long. But it’ll be, I mean, you’re talking about late December, probably.”
Mahogany’s injury directly followed an injury to right guard Tate Ratledge, who returned to the game after being checked in the locker room for a shoulder injury. Offensive tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell also sustained injuries in the game but returned.
Sewell reentered the game after being poked in the eye and briefly heading to the locker room during the second half. Decker, meanwhile, suffered a knee injury and briefly left the game but ultimately finished it. Decker has missed two games with a lingering shoulder injury and was questionable entering Sunday’s game.
“I’m on so much s— right now for my shoulder that it’s probably making my knee feel better,” Decker said after the game. “I don’t know. I think I’ll know a lot more when I wake up in the middle of the night when I wake up in pain, what it’s gonna be like. But if it’s up to me, I’m going to try and play and be out there.”
Decker expressed sympathy for Mahogany, saying that he was “really excited to come in this year and play with him.”
“We’ll see what they say, as far as the severity and how long-term it’s gonna be,” Decker said. “But I just hope he’s all right mentally, because he’s been doing a really good job, and I’ve enjoyed playing next to him.”
Ratledge said after the game that he was simply dealing with a stinger, meaning there’s no long-term concern.
With Mahogany down, the Lions relied on the services of reserve lineman Kayode Awosika, who’s likely to be the next man up in that room for the foreseeable future. Awosika has 43 career appearances and started seven games for Detroit since 2022, including the 2023 NFC Championship.
“We’ve played a bunch of games (together),” Decker said when asked about his comfortability playing with Awosika. “I have the utmost confidence in him being able to go out there because he’s put it on tape. He’s shown that he can do it. It’s not just because I want it to happen. He’s shown that he can perform out there. He’ll be just fine.”
More injury updates
▶ CB Terrion Arnold: After a two-game absence, Arnold returned to the field on Sunday but left the game with a back injury. He reentered the game in the fourth quarter.
Arnold didn’t provide much clarity about the situation after the game, but spoke to the frustration of continuing to be hampered by injuries.
“It’s just one of those things where God tests you,” Arnold said. “Even me getting back — trials and tribulations, you just have to continue to stay the course. That’s even, like, the growth of playing cornerback. Like, when you look at corners, it’s not often that corners come in and just are thriving off the rip. I’m just trusting it.
“You continue to just see the growth. I ignore the critics, I put my head down. Even when I go back, continue to watch the film and get back to the drawing board. Just continue to improve and improve.”
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