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C · Detroit Lions · week 7 vs Green Bay Packers · Sun Oct 25 · 4:25 PM ET

Cade Mays

  • ROLE a starter
  • CLASS 2022 · R6 P199
  • EXP 4 seasons
  • AGE 25-28
  • DEPTH C1

As of week 7, Cade Mays was a C for DET, age 27.4, 4 seasons of experience, drafted in round 6. In 2026 through week 6 he was listed at depth rank 1 on his club's depth chart. Before 2026 he played 53 games (postseason included) over 4 seasons. His injury history held 9 episodes (ankle 4, knee 2, arm 1), 1 of them reaching OUT, 4 a repeat of an earlier site; the last was an arm injury in 2025 week 17.

The full read

How our call moved in week 7

  • our call, P(plays)
  • club report (public)

54% COIN FLIP → 51% COIN FLIP

Every call we wrote for him in week 7, earliest first, as written.

In short

Cade Mays is a starter at center for DET — 100% of the snaps in his best week of 1. He has a wrist injury. In week 7 he practised in full every day the report covers. His team has listed him Questionable. We called him PLAY in week 5 and he did not play.

The reader dissents · grade A

P1, a Detroit News report dated the day before the game, states the Lions 'officially activated... center Cade Mays from the reserve/injured list on Saturday, Oct. 24, adding both players to the active roster' for this exact game against Green Bay, and that the questionable designation was removed upon activation. P1 further says 'The team plans to start Mays at c[enter]', which is corroborated by Detroit beat coverage during the week that the Lions would 'start Cade Mays at center' with no rotation planned (P2). This is consistent with a full participant all week (P4) and the roster spot deliberately held open for his return (P5), so the SIT call is contradicted by the club's own transaction.

What the read cites

What was reportedSource
1“The Detroit Lions officially activated defensive back Brian Branch from the reserve/PUP list and center Cade Mays from the reserve/injured list on Saturday, Oct. 24, adding both players to the active roster for a pivotal NFC North contest against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field.”Detroit News · 2026-10-24
2“The Lions listed both players as questionable on Friday's injury report, but removed them after being activated.”Detroit News · 2026-10-24
3“Detroit Lions ready to 'rip this Band-Aid off,' start Cade Mays at center”Detroit Lions · 2026-10-22
4“center Cade Mays (wrist) were full participants in practice this week”Green Bay Packers · 2026-10-23
5“the other two spots being held for the return of safety Brian Branch and center Cade Mays from their respective injury lists”Pride Of Detroit · 2026-10-22
9versions in week 7
9average, every player
29most for one player

How the call moved

COIN FLIP since Sun Oct 18 · 7:41 AM ET · 177 h before kickoff · 138 h before the club. Biggest move: 54% → 51%, Sun Oct 18 · 5:06 PM ET to Mon Oct 19 · 7:03 AM ET, with no club report in between.

His team's word: Questionable

This is the TEAM'S OWN ANNOUNCEMENT, not a reading of ours. His team filed him on the injury report and we are restating it so the record is complete. There is nothing early about repeating an announcement — what we say ahead of one is on the week's page. Source: his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended).

Practice in week 7

FriThu
FPdated Fri Oct 23FPdated Fri Oct 23

Shape of the week: steady. Only days the publisher dated are shown; a day we could not date is left out until the nightly sweep stamps it. The shape is a fact, not a forecast.

Head start

  • His club's word
  • Kickoff

Stats, with ranges

fewer than 2 games this season

Snaps by week — his larger of the offence and defence share

  1. 100%wk 7

Missed while on the injury report

SeasonWeeks on the reportMissed while listed
202621

Only the weeks he was on the injury report with a recorded result — not every game of his career.

Medical history

WhenInjuryWeeks on a reportWorst status
2026 · wk 5wrist2Out
2025 · wk 17arm1—
2025 · wk 9ankle5Out
2025 · wk 5knee1—
2024 · wk 17illness1—
2023 · wk 18hand1Doubtful
2023 · wk 17ankle1—
2023 · wk 13ankle1—
2023 · wk 9ankle1—
2022 · wk 17knee1Questionable

Every injury episode on file for him, as the record holds it.

Injury history by season · 10 episodes · 15 weeks on a report · same site more than once: ankle ×4

  • ruled out
  • doubtful
  • questionable
  • listed, and played

Each bar is one episode: the week it began and how many weeks he was on a report, coloured by the worst status.

Our past calls vs what happened

Wk 5PLAY 69% ✗ missbefore his team said anything; did not play
Wk 7PLAY 54% ✓ rightbefore his team said anything; played

Season on him: 1 of 2 graded calls of ours right. Graded by the record: right or a miss against whether he played. A week we did not call, or his club's own word, is not graded.

The rest of his team's report in week 7

PlayerPosPracticeWhose wordCallChance he playsBand
Avonte MaddoxFSUNKteam's word—
Tom KennedyWRUNKteam's word—
Rock Ya-SinCBFULLoursPLAY88%EXPECTED
Devin WhiteLBUNKteam's word—
Ben BartchOTUNKteam's word—
Payton TurnerDEUNKteam's word—
Isiah PachecoRBUNKteam's word—
Damone ClarkLBUNKteam's word—
Kerby JosephSAFUNKteam's word—
Brian BranchSFULLteam's wordQuestionable
Giovanni ManuOLUNKteam's word—
Mekhi WingoDTUNKteam's word—
Thomas HarperSAFUNKteam's word—
Seth McLaughlinCUNKteam's word—
Jackson MeeksTEUNKteam's word—
Ahmed HassaneinDEUNKteam's word—
Bishop FitzgeraldSAFUNKteam's word—
Kendrick LawWRUNKteam's word—

The model reads the room: who else is out shifts what his own designation is worth.

The evidence behind his earlier calls

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 18 · 7:41 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 18 · 12:03 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 18 · 5:06 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Mon Oct 19 · 7:03 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Mon Oct 19 · 12:03 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Mon Oct 19 · 5:03 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 20 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 20 · 12:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 20 · 5:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 1:00 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 12:02 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 21 · 5:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 12:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 4:31 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 22 · 5:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 2:10 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 12:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“Lions safety Brian Branch (Achilles) and center Cade Mays (wrist) were full participants in practice this week but are both questionable for Sunday.”Green Bay Packers · Fri Oct 23
“the other two spots being held for the return of safety Brian Branch and center Cade Mays from their respective injury lists”Pride Of Detroit · Thu Oct 22

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Both of these players are notable starters on the team, and it would be a shot in the arm for Detroit to get them back against the Packers.”Acme Packing Company · Fri Oct 23

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 24 · 5:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“Lions safety Brian Branch (Achilles) and center Cade Mays (wrist) were full participants in practice this week but are both questionable for Sunday.”Green Bay Packers · Fri Oct 23
“the other two spots being held for the return of safety Brian Branch and center Cade Mays from their respective injury lists”Pride Of Detroit · Thu Oct 22

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Both of these players are notable starters on the team, and it would be a shot in the arm for Detroit to get them back against the Packers.”Acme Packing Company · Fri Oct 23

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 25 · 7:05 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“Lions safety Brian Branch (Achilles) and center Cade Mays (wrist) were full participants in practice this week but are both questionable for Sunday.”Green Bay Packers · Fri Oct 23
“the other two spots being held for the return of safety Brian Branch and center Cade Mays from their respective injury lists”Pride Of Detroit · Thu Oct 22

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Both of these players are notable starters on the team, and it would be a shot in the arm for Detroit to get them back against the Packers.”Acme Packing Company · Fri Oct 23

The evidence behind the call made Sun Oct 25 · 12:05 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“The Detroit Lions officially activated defensive back Brian Branch from the reserve/PUP list and center Cade Mays from the reserve/injured list on Saturday, Oct. 24, adding both players to the active roster for a pivotal NFC North contest against the Green Bay Packers at Ford Field.”Detroit News · Sat Oct 24
“center Cade Mays (wrist) were full participants in practice this week”Green Bay Packers · Fri Oct 23

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“The Lions listed both players as questionable on Friday's injury report, but removed them after being activated.”Detroit News · Sat Oct 24
The data behind this page — the timeline in words, every call and week on record, about him, and what this page does not show

Profile — as of week 7

RoleC1
Season2026 · no games on file through wk 6
Career4 seasons · 53 games before 2026
Injuries9 episodes · last: arm, 2025 wk 17
Bioage 27.4 · 4 seasons' experience · drafted round 6

Where the profile comes from

Built from: honors.db; nflverse injuries_2026.csv; medical.db; nflverse players.csv; profile.db; nflverse roster_2026.csv; nflverse roster_weekly_2026.csv; nflverse snap_counts_2026.csv; nflverse stats_player_week_2026.csv. Every number in it is one those sources hold.

nflverse injuries_2026.csv

About him

About himAs the record holds it
His rolea starter at center — 100% of the snaps in his best week of 1
Listed on the depth chartfirst at center
Snaps played100% a week on average over 1 week, 100% at his highest
Build6 ft 6 in · 325 lb
CollegeTennessee
Drafted2022, round 6 pick 199, by CAR
Age25-28 at the season's start
Experience4 seasons

When this call was made, and when the world knew

  1. Team reportHis team listed him Questionable.
  2. PublicHis team's word was public as soon as it was filed.
  3. KickoffKickoff.

How our call moved, earliest first

WhenLeadCallChance he playsBandOn what
Sun Oct 18 · 7:41 AM ET177 hPLAY54%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Sun Oct 18 · 12:03 PM ET172 hPLAY54%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Sun Oct 18 · 5:06 PM ET167 hPLAY54%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Mon Oct 19 · 7:03 AM ET153 hSIT51%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Mon Oct 19 · 12:03 PM ET148 hSIT51%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Mon Oct 19 · 5:03 PM ET143 hSIT51%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Tue Oct 20 · 7:02 AM ET129 hSIT51%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Tue Oct 20 · 12:05 PM ET124 hSIT51%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Tue Oct 20 · 5:05 PM ET119 hSIT51%COIN FLIPbefore his team said anything
Wed Oct 21 · 1:00 AM ET111 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Wed Oct 21 · 7:02 AM ET105 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Wed Oct 21 · 12:02 PM ET100 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Wed Oct 21 · 5:05 PM ET95 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Thu Oct 22 · 2:10 AM ET86 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Thu Oct 22 · 7:02 AM ET81 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Thu Oct 22 · 12:05 PM ET76 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Thu Oct 22 · 4:31 PM ET72 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Thu Oct 22 · 5:05 PM ET71 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Sat Oct 24 · 12:11 AM ET40 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Sat Oct 24 · 2:10 AM ET38 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Sat Oct 24 · 7:02 AM ET33 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Sat Oct 24 · 12:02 PM ET28 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Sat Oct 24 · 5:02 PM ET23 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Sun Oct 25 · 7:05 AM ET9 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)
Sun Oct 25 · 12:05 PM ET4 hhis team's word——his team's reserve list (injured reserve, PUP, NFI, suspended)

9 calls in week 7, flipping between PLAY and SIT 1 time. Each lead time is the one that call actually had when it was written — never recounted from now. A call that changes is the record working: new evidence arrived and we said so, in public, before the game.

We went and found out more

Rank 3 (listed third or deeper, or not listed), 5 documents deep, because: llm_dissents. Fetched 5 of 5.

His record this season

WkPracticeChance he playsCallSourcePlayed
5LTD69%PLAYbefore his team said anythingno
7UNK54%PLAYbefore his team said anythingyes

A blank in Played is a week not yet settled — never a no.