Ahead of the Detroit Lions” Week 9 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, offensive guard Christian Mahogany reached out to his teammate Miles Frazier with some encouraging words. Frazier, who was selected by the Lions in the fifth round of the recent draft, was close to being activated from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, and Mahogany wanted to ensure he was mentally ready for the opportunity.
“He was like, “Be ready. You never know when your number”s gonna be called,”” Frazier recounted. Just days later, Mahogany suffered a leg injury that is anticipated to sideline him until at least late December. While Frazier has much to prove to earn the Lions” trust in game situations, Mahogany”s advice turned out to be timely.
When Mahogany got injured, he approached Frazier and said, “See?” Frazier expressed a deep appreciation for Mahogany”s words, noting their strong bond. Mahogany”s insights stem from his own challenging start in the NFL, which included a bout with mononucleosis that prevented him from participating in training camp—an essential phase for any rookie.
Frazier, too, faced a setback, missing his first training camp and the initial nine weeks of his rookie season due to a knee injury sustained during the offseason. This marked the first significant injury in his 19-year football career. After returning to practice this week, Frazier admitted he felt emotional when he first engaged in drills.
“I almost cried. Because it”s like, this is—I”m just grateful. I”m just thankful,” Frazier shared. He expressed his willingness to contribute in any way necessary, whether that meant taking on scout-team roles or stepping in wherever the coaches needed him. “I feel like this opportunity is a humbling experience,” he added, noting his gratitude for being back on the field.
Could Frazier find himself stepping in as a starter along the offensive line, similar to Mahogany”s role last season? Mahogany filled in at left tackle for Graham Glasgow and later played for an injured Kevin Zeitler during the Lions” playoff loss, performing admirably under pressure. However, Frazier is cautious about setting expectations too high, believing he will need just a week or two to feel prepared for game day.
On his first day back, he practiced at both guard positions and right tackle. “It felt pretty good, I”m not gonna lie,” he remarked when asked about his readiness. “Football is football, and at the end of the day, this is the best level, but I feel like our group that we have here—I”m surrounded by very good vets—so I”m just getting knowledge from them.” Frazier felt fortunate that he had been able to stay engaged during his recovery.
During his college career, Frazier started 15 games at Florida International before transferring to LSU, where he made 39 starts and played every position on the offensive line except center. His potential may have been overshadowed due to the presence of younger guards like Mahogany and Tate Ratledge, but many analysts considered him one of the best draft steals of 2025.
“He can play guard, he can play tackle, he did both of those at LSU,” Lions coach Dan Campbell stated. “He can sustain blocks, he”s got power, he”s pretty tenacious, he finishes.” Campbell praised Frazier”s ability to consistently make blocks and maintain his assignments.
Frazier has developed a close relationship with Mahogany, bonding over their New Jersey backgrounds and shared personalities. While Frazier is eager to establish his own role, he remains optimistic about Mahogany”s recovery. “It”s unfortunate what happened to him, but he”s high-spirited,” Frazier noted. “I feel like he”ll be back very soon. Like, sooner than expected.”
