Detroit Lions guard Christian Mahogany made his offensive debut after a challenging rookie season. Unfortunately, it was an expensive start for him.
Jeff Risdon from USA Today’s Lions Wire reported on Dec. 15 that Mahogany was fined by the NFL for grabbing an opponent’s facemask during the Lions’ victory over the Green Bay Packers last week—despite him barely playing on offense.
“Mahogany was fined just over $4,600 for grabbing a facemask during one of his three offensive snaps in the game, his NFL debut on offense,” Risdon reported.
Christian Mahogany’s Struggles as a Rookie
The Lions selected Mahogany in the sixth round of the draft, but his rookie season got off to a rough start. He battled mononucleosis over the summer and began the season on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list.
In early October, the team activated Mahogany’s 21-day practice window and, just before the deadline, decided to add him to the 53-man roster.
Mahogany had appeared in two games before last week’s victory over the Packers, where he played exclusively on special teams. In that game, he saw three offensive snaps and was fined for one of them, though no penalty flag was thrown for the facemask incident.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell suggested Mahogany still has a long way to go, as he missed most of the offseason activities after rookie minicamp. When the team opened his practice window in October, Campbell noted that Mahogany was essentially starting from scratch.
“He looked like that was his first day of practice. It’s like his first practice and it’s his first NFL practice, which you would expect,” Campbell explained.
Lions Solid on Offensive Line
It’s unclear how many more chances Mahogany will get on offense this season, as he remains behind a talented group of linemen. The team has assembled one of the top offenses in the league, and The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy mentioned that tackle Penei Sewell could be the NFL’s best offensive lineman this season.
“I’m not kidding when I say this: Penei Sewell should be in the offensive player of the year discussion. He’s been that good,” Pouncy said. “Every time the Lions need short yards in a key situation, they typically pick them up behind Sewell. When their offense stalls, they’ll run screens with Sewell in space blocking. He’s one of the best athletes I’ve seen on a football field, and there aren’t many guys who can do what he does. He’s an offensive weapon — one the Lions take advantage of.”
Pouncy also highlighted the strong performances from All-Pro center Frank Ragnow and guard Kevin Zeitler, who he noted is “having an All-Pro caliber season.” The rest of the line is solid too.
“Left tackle Taylor Decker has been banged up, but he’s a steady piece when healthy,” Pouncy added. “And while Graham Glasgow hasn’t had his best season, if he’s your weak link, your offensive line is pretty good. They open up running lanes for the backs while keeping Goff protected. Never underestimate the value of a great offensive line.”
Nathan Dougherty is a sports reporter covering the NFL for Heavy.com, focusing on the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins. He previously wrote for the Rochester Business Journal and served as the assistant editor of athletic trade magazines like Coaching Management, Athletic Management, and Training & Conditioning. Dougherty is based in Rochester, New York, and is passionate about football. More about Nathan Dougherty.
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