Last year around this time, Christian Mahogany wasn't on the practice field or even in the building as he was dealing with mononucleosis. The mono kept the then rookie out all of training camp and landed him on the NFI (non-football injury) list to start the season. His practice window didn't open until October 8 (Week 5) and his first appearance in a game wasn't until November 24 (Week 12).
But Mahogany was counted on to step in Dec. 22 vs. Chicago and start due to injury and his play was pretty impressive. He allowed just one pressure, had a 82.5 blocking grade from Pro Football Focus and was graded the ninth best guard in the league by PFF that week. He made another start in the playoffs and played equally as well despite Detroit's loss to Washington.
The two performances gave the Lions hope that Mahogany, who they drafted in the sixth round of last year's NFL Draft, can step into a permanent role starting at left guard this season. Mahogany has looked pretty good in that role to start camp.
"Look, I've got to keep telling myself too, Mahogany for example, he's a young player, he didn't go through preseason last year," Lions head coach Dan Campbell said. "He got two games, that's good, but it's not like he's going on Year 5.
"He's a young player that just needs reps and with every rep he gets better and better and better. And there's also going to be some things that happen, there's growing pains that comes with that, so the more reps we can get and we reach those standards, the better off we're going to be. It all starts at the front for us, everything does."
Mahogany is part of a brand new starting trio in the middle of Detroit's offensive line with Graham Glasgow taking over at center for the retired Frank Ragnow and rookie Tate Ratledge stepping in at right guard.
Campbell said the standard Detroit has established with their offensive line doesn't change even with three new starters and it's why Mahogany being able to take part in this year's training camp has been so huge for the second-year pro.
Mahogany thought missing training camp last year would derail his rookie season but said the coaches and training staff did a great job getting him back feeling like himself again by the Week 5 bye week and his confidence progressed every week after.
"Now I feel so much more ahead in the playbook and being here physically in the meetings and being around the guys and playing with the guys and getting the reps. It's just been so crucial," Mahogany said after Wednesday's practice.
View photos from Day 11 of Detroit Lions training camp on Wednesday August 6, 2025.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Malik Taylor (86) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) and Detroit Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin (23) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive assistant Caleb Collins, Detroit Lions edge rusher Mitchell Agude (50) and Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions defensive back Brian Branch (32) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson (97) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) and Detroit Lions passing game coordinator/defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Shane Zylstra (84) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Brock Wright (89) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (1) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (5) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jacob Saylors (48) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone (34) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions safety Erick Hallett (36) and Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tom Kennedy (85) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions tackle Penei Sewell (58) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) and Detroit Lions cornerback D.J. Reed (4) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions cornerback Avonte Maddox (29) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Colby Sorsdal (75) during training camp at the Meijer Performance Center on Aug. 6, 2025 in Allen Park, Mich. (Jeff Nguyen/Detroit Lions)
He has some nasty traits to his game that fit in Detroit. He's tenacious and likes to finish his blocks, especially in the run game. The Lions like how he's developing and feel like he's going to be an even better player in a month having gone through his first training camp in his second season.
"He's like most young players, he just needs experience and that comes with time and reps, over and over and over," Campbell said. "But he's improving."
Mahogany also seems to have the right mindset to fit into a group that includes veterans like Glasgow, Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker that certainly aren't going to lower their standard for how they want the unit to play.
"I wouldn't say my confidence has changed. I try to be the same every day," Mahogany said. "It doesn't matter good play or bad play. It's the next play that matters. So, the confidence doesn't change. You can never be too high and can never be too low, so just stay steady."
