Lions' Cade Mays Exits With Ankle Injury
The Detroit Lions starting center left the game against the Vikings after suffering a left ankle injury.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
Detroit Lions starting center Cade Mays suffered a left ankle injury in the second quarter of the team's game against the Vikings and was carted off the field to the locker room. He is questionable to return, and Juice Scruggs replaced him at center.
Why it matters
Mays had already missed the early games of the 2026 season with a wrist injury before returning against the Green Bay Packers, so another absence affects the stability of the Lions' offensive line. Scruggs, who has started five of the team's six games, is now being relied on again at a key position.
Juice Scruggs holds a 75.6 overall PFF grade, second among NFL centers this season, with an 83.8 run-blocking grade that ranks league-best. He has started five of the Lions' six games and has allowed nine pressures and three penalties so far.
The players
Cade Mays
Mays is the Detroit Lions starting center who has battled wrist and ankle injuries in the 2026 season.
Juice Scruggs
Scruggs was acquired by the Lions in the David Montgomery trade with the Houston Texans and has become one of the NFL's highest-graded centers this season.
Jared Goff
Goff is the Detroit Lions starting quarterback who was involved in the offensive sequence during the game.
The details
Vikings defenders stormed toward the Lions offensive line, and Mays got caught up in the middle of the pile, injuring his left ankle. Quarterback Jared Goff had earlier thrown an interception aimed at Jameson Williams, but the injury occurred during the play sequence that followed.
Timeline
Early 2026 season: Mays missed initial games due to a wrist injury.
Week 6 of the 2026 season (approximate): Mays returned against the Green Bay Packers.
November 1, 2026: Mays suffered the left ankle injury against the Vikings.
Season Trajectory
Mays' second significant injury stoppage tests the depth the Lions built through the David Montgomery trade, which brought in Scruggs as a capable replacement at center. How the team manages its offensive line over the remaining games will shape its standing in a competitive NFC race.
Fantasy managers relying on Lions offensive line production should monitor Scruggs' usage and Mays' status before lineup deadlines. The Lions' depth at center will determine whether the running game and pass protection hold steady in upcoming games.
The takeaway
Injuries to starting linemen often reveal how deep a roster really is, and Scruggs' performance this season suggests the Lions have a credible answer at center if Mays cannot return quickly.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster and injury situations, see our Football coverage.
