The Detroit Lions invited two veteran guards to their facility for tryouts Thursday. Detroit sports fans should be quite familiar with one of them.
According to the NFL transaction wire, former Lions first-round pick Laken Tomlinson was one of the two guards to tryout for Detroit on Thursday. The other was fellow veteran and ex-second-round selection Will Hernandez.
The Lions picked Tomlinson at No. 28 overall in the 2015 NFL Draft. He spent two seasons in Detroit before the team traded him to the San Francisco 49ers just before the start of the 2017 campaign.
With the 49ers, Tomlinson made the Pro Bowl in 2021. He has started 162 games in his NFL career.
In addition to the Lions and 49ers, Tomlinson has also played for the New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans.
The New York Giants selected Hernandez at No. 34 overall in the second round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has started 56 NFL games with the Giants and Arizona Cardinals.
Lions Host Former 1st-Rounder Laken Tomlinson for Tryout
GettyFormer Detroit Lions first-round pick Laken Tomlinson and fellow veteran Will Hernandez tried out for the Lions Thursday.
Pundits expect Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany to anchor the guard spots for the Lions this season. But the Lions appear to be in the market for additional depth.
Detroit has dealt with injuries along the interior of their offensive line this month. Guard Ben Bartch, who could still push for a starting opportunity at guard, is currently in the concussion protocol.
Projected starting center Cade Mays will miss 8-10 weeks for the Lions because of a wrist injury.
Tomlinson won’t be a candidate to replace Mays. But Juice Scruggs could start at center, and Scruggs was supposed to be a depth interior lineman for the Lions this season.
The Lions could see Tomlinson as a replacement for Scruggs on the bench.
Tomlinson’s familiarity with the Lions and 11 years of experience make him an ideal candidate to provide depth. He also has playoff experience. Tomlinson played in the Super Bowl during January 2020.
Last season, he appeared in 10 games for the Texans, starting seven contests at left guard.
Detroit Also Brings in Will Hernandez for Tryout
GettyDan Campbell and the Detroit Lions might bring back a familiar face to add interior offensive line depth.
Hernandez is another candidate to fill a similar depth role along the offensive line interior for Detroit. Hernandez doesn’t have as much NFL experience, but he’s more than three years younger.
Tomlinson is 34 years old. Hernandez will turn 31 in early September before Week 1.
Hernandez, though, doesn’t have any playoff experience. He has also ended the past two seasons on injured reserve.
In 2024, Hernandez suffered a season-ending knee injury. During 2025, he started seven games before hip and knee ailments ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.
It’s unlikely, but given their experience, it’s not out of the question the Lions could bring in Tomlinson or Hernandez to start.
While pundits expect Mahogany to start at left guard, the Lions have Scruggs in that role on their unofficial depth chart. Mays, though, remains as the team’s top center, which won’t be the case in Week 1.
The Lions also have Mason Miller, Miles Frazier, Seth McLaughlin and Melvin Priestly listed as other interior offensive linemen on their depth chart.
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