Lions to split left-guard reps between Mahogany and Bartch; Campbell open to playing both vs. Saints

The one open spot on the Lions' offensive line will stay open through the week. Christian Mahogany and Ben Bartch will split reps at left guard in practice this week, and Dan Campbell said he could use both linemen in Sunday's season opener against the New Orleans Saints.

That makes left guard the lone unsettled position up front for a Detroit line that otherwise returns intact. Rather than anoint a starter now, the Lions are letting the week decide — and Campbell's comment leaves the door open to a rotation rather than a winner-take-all call, meaning Sunday could feature both players depending on situations and how the week of practice shakes out.

The health status is as good as it gets. Every one of the 52 players currently on the Lions' roster took part in the open portion of Tuesday's practice at the Meijer Performance Center:

A full-participation Tuesday to open game week is the note the Lions wanted after a camp in which injuries cropped up along the line and at the skill positions. With everyone available, the left-guard split becomes a competition of choice, not necessity.

Detroit opens the season at home against New Orleans on Sunday, with the winner of the week's rep split — or perhaps both of them — lining up between the returning starters on an offensive line that has spent the week at full strength.