Lions center Frank Ragnow details ongoing battle with lingering foot injury

Lions center Frank Ragnow has been a constant on the injury report this season with a lingering toe injury, but he is set on continuing to be in uniform on Sundays.

Last year, Lions center Frank Ragnow was sidelined after Week 4 by a toe injury that required season-ending surgery. Up to the point surgery was deemed to be the only path, he thought he could try to play with the torn plantar plate in his left foot.

In this year’s season opener, Ragnow suffered an injury to the same area of the previously injured foot. He missed Week 2 against the Washington Commanders. But he has played every snap of every game since despite being on the injury report most weeks, if not every week.

Ragnow missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week, after a limited practice on Friday he’s listed as questionable for Sunday against the New York Giants. For what it’s worth he has said he will absolutley play, and his presence will be vital with Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams manning the interior of New York’s defensive line.

Frank Ragnow is embracing what he has to do to not miss time

Ragnow was sporting a walking boot after last Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears, which naturally fueled some interest in and speculation about his status. On Friday he acknowledged, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, that the Week 6 bye did him some good.

"Honestly, training camp and preseason, it was gone. I was cruising,” Ragnow said Friday. “So I think this is just super unfortunately unlucky. And it was good like after bye week, those first couple games, I’d say I was above like 85% and it just has — it has pops or slipups, I don’t even really know what it is.”"

Ragnow acknowledged how much time he spends in the training room, via Justin Rogers of The Detroit News, but he wouldn’t do it any other way. The coming chunk of days, with Sunday’s game followed closely by the Thanksgiving Day game against the Buffalo Bills, will be a challenge.

"Oh yeah, I freaking live in that place,” he said. “We’re all best friends in there, unfortunately.I just need rest,” Ragnow said. “Unfortunately, it’s not an option right now, which is fine. I’d rather do what I’m doing than miss games.”"

Despite operating practically on one leg, and the injury flairing up during games, Ragnow is playing well.

Via Rogers:

"I’ve been playing well, but I haven’t been playing to my standards, which is frustrating,” “…It definitely messes with your footwork. And the hardest thing is the focus, right? It will be play-to-play, I am hurting. I’m trying to focus on everything, but there are some things that don’t usually get me are getting me sometimes. That’s just frustrating.”"

Ragnow told reporters he doesn’t expect to need another surgery come the offseason, and rest will be enough to get fully healthy in 2023.