With the grade of severity in mind, a torn (or partially torn) pectoral would sideline a lot of people for multiple weeks. But Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow is clearly not a lot of people. He once finished a game with fractured cartilage in his throat, and he is playing through a chronic toe issue. The litany of injuries he played with last season would have cost mere mortals for more than the two games he missed.
Ragnow was added to the list of injured Lions coming out of Week 3 the next day with the aforementioned partially torn pectoral. He missed Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks, as expected and of course against his will. Head coach Dan Campbell told a story this week during his appearance on 97.1 The Ticket.
"Last week, right before Seattle, I walked down there to talk to our trainer and somebody punches me against the wall," Campbell said. "And I’m not even paying attention because I’m looking at our trainer. And then I get punched again and I realize it’s Frank and he’s trying to show me that his pec is great. That’s his way of telling me, ‘Look how strong I am. It’s good, it’s healed.’
Bye week was not a week of rest for Frank Ragnow
The bye week in Week 5 seemed sure to help Ragnow miss as little time as possible. But it also meant he had rehab to do, which he acknowledged when he talked to reporters on Thursday.
"We had to rehab, all kinds of shoulder (exercises) and all kinds of different boring exercises that you kinda strengthen everything and make sure you’re good to go.”
Ragnow went on to say that rehab work is "unfortunately" how he spent his bye week. However vaguely, he also said he feels "good enough, baby" and "it's all good" regarding his injury.
What about the moment Campbell revealed to the world this week?
“I was just trying to demonstrate that I was okay. That’s it,” Ragnow said.
Ragnow has been a full participant in the first two days of practice this week. So the expectation is he will miss just one game due to that partially torn pec, which surprises exactly no one.