Lions Down Multiple O-Line Starters

Beginning with the March release of longtime stalwart Taylor Decker, the Lions shook up their offensive tackle alignment in the offseason. Elite right tackle Penei Sewell shifted to the blind side to replace Decker, and the team drafted Miller with the 17th overall selection to take over Sewell’s former spot.

Miller was an iron man at Clemson, where he played in 54 straight games and set the school record with 3,778 offensive snaps. It looked like more of the same in Miller’s NFL debut, as he played all 77 of the Lions’ offensive snaps in an overtime win against the Saints in Week 1.

Considering Miller’s track record of durability, it’s surprising that he is already going to miss a game with the Lions. However, the Lions wanted to play it safe with the banged-up Miller during a short week, per Colton Pouncy of The Athletic.

Perhaps Miller will be ready to return when the Lions face the Jets in Week 3, but for now, they will rely on free agent addition Larry Borom. The former Bear and Dolphin was unsuccessful in his attempt to beat out Miller for the job in camp, but Borom does have 38 starts on his resume. Last season, his fifth in the NFL, Borom picked up a career-high 11 starts over 16 games in Miami. He played all 664 of his snaps at right tackle along the way. Detroit handed Borom a guaranteed $4.9MM on a one-year, $5MM contract.

The Lions went most of Week 1 without Mahogany, who injured his hip on their second offensive series. Ben Bartch replaced Mahogany and will continue to fill in Thursday.

Mahogany held off Bartch for starting duties during the summer, though it may have gone differently had the latter not missed time with a concussion. Injuries have been a consistent problem during Bartch’s seven-year career, including last season.

Bartch entered the year as the 49ers’ No. 1 left guard job, but he went on IR with a high ankle sprain after Week 2 and did not start in any of his four appearances when he returned. Bartch joined the Lions on a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum in March.

The Lions already opened this year without starting center Cade Mays, who injured his wrist in early August and may not be back until October. Juice Scruggs, acquired in the David Montgomery trade with the Texans, is playing in Mays’ place. While it’s only a one-game sample size, Pro Football Focus was enamored of Scruggs’ performance against the Saints. PFF rated Scruggs as the second-best center in Week 1, while Bartch (23rd out of 64 qualifying guards) fared respectably in his own right.

Despite plugging in two backup offensive linemen in Week 1, the Lions only allowed one sack to quarterback Jared Goff. Their blockers also paved the way for running back Jahmyr Gibbs’ 29-carry, 156-yard explosion. Life may be more difficult this week without Miller, but if last Sunday is any indication, the Bills’ defense will likely have trouble containing a Detroit offense loaded with weapons.

The Bills pulled off an impressive 36-31 win in Houston and forced two turnovers, but they also allowed 381 net yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 26 of 38 passes for 274 yards and two scores, and Montgomery & Co. ran for 124. That would seem to bode well for Goff, Gibbs, receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta. With the Bills boasting their own high-powered attack, the first game in their new stadium could be a shootout.