Aug. 10 (UPI) — Detroit Lions running back Isiah Pacheco was diagnosed with an MCL sprain, coach Dan Campbell told reporters Monday.
Pacheco will miss his fourth consecutive practice Monday due to the sprain, but Campbell said the Lions “feel good about” his availability for the 2026 regular season.
“It’ll be a little bit,” Campbell said of Pacheco’s injury. “He’s got a little MCL sprain, but we feel good about that. We feel pretty good about him being ready to go, certainly when the season gets here. I’m not concerned about that.”
Campbell also announced that starting center Cade Mays, who fractured his wrist, will miss significant time in the regular season.
Mays joined the Lions in free agency this off-season on a three-year, $75 million contract.
Pacheco signed a one-year, $1.81 million contract with the Lions this off-season. Sione Vaki and Jacob Saylors are among the Lions’ other backup running backs, behind starter Jahmyr Gibbs.
Juice Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Michael Niese are among the Lions’ other centers. Campbell said Scruggs is dealing with a soft tissue injury. The Lions coach said guard Tate Ratledge also will take snaps at center.
“This will be a while,” Campbell said, when asked about Mays’ absence. “I’m not going to give you a timeline. He’ll be ready for the playoffs. I do feel good about that.”
Left tackle Penei Sewell, left guard Christian Mahogany, Ratledge and right tackle Blake Miller are among the Lions’ other projected starting offensive linemen.
“We will find the best five,” Campbell said. “We are trying to find that before camp does. If those into the season, it does. At some point, we will find the best find, and where they belong, and they be ready.”
The Lions will face the Cincinnati Bengals in their preseason opener at 7 p.m. EDT Thursday in Cincinnati. They will host the New Orleans Saints in their regular season opener Sept. 13 in Detroit.