MAHOGANY BACK AT PRACTICE
The Detroit Lions are inching closer to getting some reinforcements back along their offensive line.
Second-year starting left guard Christian Mahogany, who suffered a leg injury Week 9 against Minnesota and has been on injured reserve, returned to practice Wednesday as the team began his 21-day return-to-play clock.
At any point during that 21-day process, the Lions can activate him. While that seems unlikely to happen for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, it’s good news Detroit could be getting a starter back upfront for the final stretch run the last few weeks of the season.
The Lions have been using a combination of Kayode Awosika, Trystan Colon and rookie Miles Frazier, who worked himself into 26 reps at left guard in his NFL debut last week. Awosika missed last week’s game with a foot injury but was back at practice Wednesday.
Mahogany was playing well for Detroit’s top-ranked scoring offense and No. 5 rushing attack before the injury, allowing two sacks and four total quarterback hits in eight starts.
“I told him he’s still a rookie because he played two games (last year) because he came back so late. But he was doing good,” Lions run game coordinator and offensive line coach Hank Fraley said of Mahogany’s play prior to the injury. “He was playing physical and fast. A lot of stuff we just needed to clean up because it was really his first year as a full-time starter.
“He brings a physicality to the table and stuff like that but the more you learn from your mistakes and turn them into positives and I’m excited to get him back on the field and see where he’s at. We’re all excited to get him back.”