Lions Center Crisis Deepens | Detroit Lions News

The Detroit Lions cut ties with veteran offensive lineman Michael Niese after waiving him from injured reserve, ending his three-year stint with the team. Niese, who joined Detroit in 2023 and played key snaps on special teams, was let go amid injury settlement talks — a move that comes at a critical time as starting center Cade Mays is sidelined with a broken wrist. With both Niese and Mays out, backup Juice Scruggs — a former second-round pick with experience at center — is stepping into the starting role. The Lions face their opening game of the 2026 season against the Saints on Sunday, highlighting how quickly rosters shift due to injuries and roster moves. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/a6485240a2fea0b6