Lions preseason film breakdown: Juice Scruggs makes case for starting role

The Detroit Lions need someone to reliably hold down the center position until starter Cade Mays recovers from his wrist injury. Juice Scruggs made his case on Saturday afternoon against the Washington Commanders in the Lions’ second game of the 2026 preseason. Despite some promising play from Seth McLaughlin in training camp, the competition may be over.

Let’s take a moment to give credit where credit is due. Lions General Manager Brad Holmes notably got a strong return in the offseason trade of former Lions running back David Montgomery, a package that not only included the 2026 fourth-round pick but also the versatile interior offensive lineman.

When asked about Scruggs, the 2023 second-round pick out of Penn State, Holmes described his fit on the roster:

“His makeup and all the intangible qualities that he possesses, we were all blown away by that coming out of the draft process. So just to see actual tangible evidence of him starting both guard spots, starting center, and actually holding his own at all three, it was impressive.”

With Holmes’ strong track record as an evaluator for the NFL Draft, it is worth looking back on what draft experts said about Scruggs at the time.

The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote the following strengths for Scruggs in his The Beast draft profile:

“plays on high alert to read stunts/twists … uses the strength in his arms and upper body to finish in the run
game … shows accurate timing release on combos and second-level blocks … team captain and was the veteran voice in Penn State’s offensive line room”

Scruggs checks the boxes of a Holmes draft pick, as the fit and vision are clear. Scruggs is the type of player who can step in anywhere along the interior offensive line when the inevitable injury over the course of an NFL season occurs.

Let’s take a look at how these strengths were displayed on the field.

Scruggs repeatedly showed his ability to climb to the second level with effort and physicality.

Let’s start with what I view as Scruggs’s strongest rep of the game. The Lions run a duo run scheme (video below), where Scruggs (No. 70) first attacks the 2i-technique with left guard Christian Mahogany and then, with accurate timing and release, moves up to block the second-level defender. He not only succeeds with his assignment, but also plays the rep with high effort, physicality, and finish. This is the kind of play that builds trust from the coaching staff.

On this next example, Scruggs works a combination block with right guard Tate Ratledge. Together, they drive the nose tackle off the line of scrimmage until Scruggs releases off to engage with the second-level linebacker. Now Scruggs has repeated the concept to both his left and right, banking on trust.

Versatility in the run game has been a staple for the Dan Campbell era of Lions football. However, an offense is limited if players are better suited to one particular scheme than another. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing discussed the importance of adaptability to build an offense around the players you have.

While the first two plays spotlighted above feature a duo blocking scheme, the next play below is a wide-zone design. Scruggs flashes functional athleticism to get the snap off and successfully reach-block the 1- technique.

If Scruggs can consistently play well in multiple run-game looks like he did against the Commanders, the Lions offense should be in good shape until Cade Mays works his way back into the lineup.

With limited reps together so far this training camp, the interior offensive line needs to gel quickly, with the regular season rapidly approaching. We saw evidence of this early in pass protection.

Notice Scruggs instinctively transition to pass off his man to Mahogany to his left and then mentally shift his attention to help Ratledge to his right. He looks controlled and confident in his movements, not scattered and questioning where his teammates are as they pick up the rush as a unit.

It was unquestionably a strong night for Juice Scruggs. But every coach and player will tell you there is always something to learn and grow from on tape. Below is that play.

Right off the snap, Scruggs puts himself in a great position to win the rep. By reaching the 1- technique and getting his helmet across with his hips not far behind, Scruggs establishes leverage against the defender. As the play develops, it appears his feet get a bit stuck in the mud, allowing the defensive tackle to get vertical with his rush.

Admittedly, this is nitpicking. Due to the run-action rollout concept, if Scruggs were to “lose” the rep, this is the best way he could have done so. And even then, it would be questionable to even record this as an allowed pressure.

To hold down the center job, the Lions don’t need Juice Scruggs to be a game changer. They need him to be exactly who he is: a versatile football player who plays with instincts and physicality.

Against Washington, Scruggs did exactly that.

All Juice, no pulp.