Lions work out two free agent guards, including their first-round pick from 2015

The Lions are looking for help at guard.

With Ben Bartch in concussion protocol and Juice Scruggs repping at center after Cade Mays went down with a wrist injury, the Lions are thin on experience behind their projected starting guards Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany.

On Thursday, Detroit worked out two free agent veterans: Laken Tomlinson and Will Hernandez. Of note: neither one has experience at center. Tomlinson and Hernandez are strictly guards.

Tomlinson is the familiar name here. He was the Lions' first round pick in 2015 under the regime of GM Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Caldwell. 11 years later, Tomlinson's still going.

Entering last season, Tomlinson had started 131 games in a row dating back to 2017. And he began 2025 as the Texans' starting left guard. But Tomlinson lost that job midway through the year and was released by Houston in December.

The 34-year-old had some strong seasons with the 49ers after being traded by Detroit, including a Pro Bowl selection in 2021. But he's a long way removed from his prime.

Hernandez, meanwhile, is a familiar name to Lions new offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Hernandez was the Cardinals' starting right guard for each of Petzing's three seasons as Arizona's OC, but he played just seven games last year due to knee and hip injuries and just five games in 2024 due to a torn ACL.

And when healthy last year, he was one of the lowest-graded guards in the NFL, per PFF.

Hernandez, who turns 31 next week, was a second-round pick of the Giants in 2018.