When the Detroit Lions travel to play the Chicago Bears in Week 14 action, they may be without two important players in the trenches on both sides of the ball.
According to Dan Campbell, there is more good news than bad with center Frank Ragnow’s knee report. The head coach of the Lions clarified, nevertheless, that it does not guarantee Ragnow will be ready this weekend. After 21 snaps, Ragnow suffered a knee injury. Colby Sorsdal moved to right guard, Graham Glasgow to center, and Ragnow to left guard.
The team initially feared the worst, with Ragnow staying down on the field for a bit and needing assistance to the sideline. But the news was cautiously optimistic after the game and the next day from the head coach.
“I would say this, I feel like more than anything, we got good news,” Campbell said. “But that doesn’t mean he’ll be available this week.
And while it’s never a good thing to lose one of the game’s top talents at their respective position. The Lions have been blessed to have Graham Glasgow back in the fold, filling holes at both guard spots and in the middle throughout the campaign.
Gasgow logged 21 snaps at guard, then 37 in the middle. He led the way on Jameson Williams’ electric 19-yard touchdown run and was the team’s top-graded pass blocker, per Pro Football Focus.
And Campbell is thanking the heavens they brought Glasgow back to Detroit’s offensive line.
“It’s exactly why we got him,” Campbell said. “You don’t want it for this moment, but it’s also for this moment, and even to be able to make the move yesterday — He’s banging away at right guard, then at the drop of a hat he’s got to go back in there at center. He really played well at center yesterday.
“It’s valuable to be able to have him here. And look, because we do have a lot of confidence in him playing center. Yeah, thank God we got him.”
And the news gets a little worse, with a cloud hanging over third-year defensive lineman Alim McNeill’s status for the divisional date.
McNeill was again one of the team’s top defenders on the field in their 33-28 win over the New Orleans Saints. But he played through some pain after clanking knees with Aidan Hutchinson, and Campbell thinks the breakout third-year defender could miss some time due to the injury. McNeill has been great rushing the passer and stopping the run, taking a massive leap forward, ranking as PFF’s No. 6 interior defender this year.
The Lions will see how McNeill’s knee responds through the week before making a determination, but it sounds very possible the defensive line will be without their interior disruptor.
“Mac’s a little banged up, so we’ll know more on him probably in a couple of days,” Campbell said. “There is a chance he may not be up, either.
