Dan Campbell’s latest comments on Christian Mahogany raise new questions about Detroit Lions’ starting lineup against Patriots
After benching Christian Mahogany for violating team rules, Dan Campbell says the two have spoken and everything is good. But his latest comments leave uncertainty about whether Mahogany will return to the starting lineup.
Sunday was a weird one for anyone watching the Detroit Lions. Christian Mahogany wasn’t the starter at left guard, and every Lions fan wanted to know why one of the best guards in the NFL wasn’t on the field.
We got some understanding of that after the game. Lions coach Dan Campbell explained that Mahogany’s benching was a disciplinary decision. We don’t know what Mahogany did wrong, and we probably never will. To be honest, it doesn’t matter much unless it was something illegal. What matters now is whether everything is OK between the player and the team and whether Mahogany will be back in the starting lineup.
Campbell’s Monday update on Christian Mahogany
Campbell spoke to reporters Monday, and he was a little cryptic again about where things stand with his left guard. Here’s what he said:
“Yeah, listen, we’re good. I mean, I talked to him this morning, so ball’s in his court. So all good.”
On first read, that sounds encouraging. Campbell talked to Mahogany on Monday morning, he says they’re good, and everything seems fine.
But what does “ball’s in his court” even mean?
That’s the part that’s hard to pin down. Campbell was asked straight up whether Mahogany would be back in the lineup. He didn’t offer much more.
“I just — the ball’s in his court. That’s all I said,” Campbell said.
So Detroit’s coach isn’t tipping his hand. It sounds like the decision rests on Mahogany and whatever conversation the two had Monday morning. Beyond that, we’re left guessing. It seems like we’ll find out Sunday when the Lions take on the New England Patriots in Munich, Germany, whether Mahogany is back as the starter.
Is Christian Mahogany a trade candidate?
Here’s what we do know. Campbell was asked point-blank if Mahogany is a trade candidate.
He said, “No.”
That clears up one thing. Detroit isn’t keeping Mahogany on the bench because it’s lining up a trade or trying to protect an asset. Honestly, that would be a ridiculous move considering how well this offensive line has played. You don’t break up a group that’s working for no reason.
This is what it is. It’s a disciplinary issue, and the specifics will likely stay inside the building. That’s how Campbell runs things, and it makes sense. He has built a culture in Detroit where the standard applies to everyone, including one of the best players on the line. If a starter crosses a line, he sits, and the team moves on.
The good thing is that nothing Campbell said Monday suggests a long-term rift. He used the word “good” twice, and he made it clear a trade isn’t on the table. The bad thing is that nobody outside the team knows how this ends until kickoff.
A small edge for the Lions in Munich
There might be a little bit of a competitive advantage for the Lions in all this. The Patriots now have to prepare without knowing who is going to line up at left guard for Detroit. That’s not a huge deal, but it’s one more thing New England has to account for on a short week of planning for an international game.
At the same time, Lions fans would like to know. Mahogany has been a big part of why this offensive line has been so effective, and it’s hard to watch the team without him in the lineup when there’s no injury involved.
For now, this is all we know. Campbell talked to Mahogany, he says they’re good, and the ball is in his left guard’s court. We’ll see Sunday in Munich if Mahogany picks it up.
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