The Detroit Lions will be without one of their top road graders on the offensive line on a day when they will undoubtedly want to run the football.
Center Frank Ragnow will not play on Sunday in Chicago because of a knee injury that he suffered last weekend. MRIs revealed he avoided the worst-case scenarios, and he’s been improving throughout the week, but not enough to suit up against the Bears.
“I don’t see him going,” head coach Dan Campbell said. “He is improving, he is getting better, he’s getting better. But yeah, I don’t see him going.”
The size of the loss is obvious. Ragnow, a two-time Pro Bowler, is one of the leaders of one of the best offensive lines in the league. He’s allowed no sacks and just three hits in the passing game, while his run blocking ranks fourth at the position according to Pro Football Focus.
On a cold, wintery — and potentially windy — afternoon in Chicago, when running the football will be more important than ever, Ragnow’s loss will be felt.
The bigger problem will be at guard, where the Lions are losing Glasgow and have already stashed Halapoulivaati Vaitai on injured reserve. Rookie Colby Sorsdal finished the game at right guard in New Orleans, but he was the worst offensive player on the field, according to Pro Football Focus. He was benched the previous week at left guard against Green Bay.
