Lions Center Cade Mays to Miss Significant Time With Wrist Fracture

Detroit Lions center Cade Mays will miss a significant portion of the 2026 season after suffering a fractured wrist during training camp, head coach Dan Campbell announced on Monday. The injury to the team's newly signed free agent is a major setback for an offensive line that was already reshuffling for the upcoming campaign.

Campbell told reporters that Mays has a wrist injury that will sideline him for a "significant period of time," though he did not provide a specific timeline. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Mays fractured a small bone in his wrist, and the expected recovery period is eight to 10 weeks. This timeline would likely cause him to miss the start of the regular season but could allow for a return midway through the year.

The injury is a considerable blow to the Lions' offensive plans. Mays, 27, was signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason on a three-year, $25 million contract to be the team's starting center. He had spent his first four NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers after being selected in the sixth round of the 2022 draft. In 2025, Mays started 12 games for Carolina, helping the team reach the postseason.