There could be a change in the starting offensive line for the Detroit Lions this week. Left guard Graham Glasgow is questionable for Sunday’s matchup in Chicago against the Bears with a knee injury, one that clearly inhibited his play in the Week 15 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
The next man up at left guard would be rookie Christian Mahogany. Despite his inexperience–Mahogany has played just three snaps on offense in 2024–the Lions and head coach Dan Campbell feel confident and comfortable with the idea of playing Mahogany against Chicago.
“Yeah, comfortable,” Campbell said of Mahogany. “I would say we’re working he and (Kayode Awosika) Yode on both of those and working both sides, and (Michael) Niese has worked a little bit of right guard for us, too. But those two we’re really comfortable with.”
Mahogany has battled a tough road to this point. He missed almost the entire offseason ill with mono, missing valuable practice and teaching time. It’s cooled some of the buzz for the sixth-rounder from Boston College. Yet this could also be a grand opportunity for a player with considerable promise and long-term starting potential to prove himself.
Don’t bet against Mahogany. As noted in his pre-draft evaluation, he’s a perfect schematic and culture fit for the Lions offensive line. Here’s what I wrote in March about Mahogany:
Mahogany is a guard whose game would have fit nicely back in the 1970s and 80s with his power-based, aggressive style. He’s wide, powerful and plays angry, capable of starting at either OG spot but projecting better on the right side. Mahogany’s lack of foot speed or twitchy movement skills makes him a better fit for a gap-based scheme like the one the Lions run. There will always be concerns about his ability to handle quickness on the interior, but Mahogany’s consistent anchor in pass pro and dominating power in the run game should hold considerable appeal for the Lions. He projects as a 3rd/4th round pick, but Mahogany is a top-50 overall talent on my board.
It will be interesting to see if the Lions continue their upswing in zone-blocking concepts if Mahogany is thrust into the lineup. As is the case with Glasgow, that’s not where the rookie is at his best. The Bears defensive front has fallen off considerably even since the first meeting between the two teams on Thanksgiving, making this a great chance for Mahogany to shine if called upon.
