The quest to have the Detroit Lions desired starting five offensive linemen on the field together remains ever-elusive. Unfortunately, injuries have two projected starters potentially out for the Week 8 Monday Night Football matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Left guard Jonah Jackson and center Frank Ragnow each missed the first two days of practice this week with injuries. It’s not a surprise that Jackson sat out both days with his high ankle sprain; Jackson hasn’t practiced in two weeks and was considered very unlikely to play against the Raiders entering the week.
Ragnow’s unexpected absence proves more troublesome. The Pro Bowl center gets one day off every week as a veteran rest day to help his chronic toe injury. It’s always designated as such on the official injury report. This week is different.
Ragnow is listed as “did not participate” with a toe and a calf injury. The final injury status will come out later on Saturday, but it’s not promising at all that Ragnow hasn’t practiced either day.
If Ragnow can’t play against the Raiders, there will be some shuffling. Graham Glasgow filled in for Jackson last week at left guard and is the top reserve guard. But he’s also the backup center and the only other center on the roster, including the practice squad. Second-year Michael Niese has started one preseason game for the Buccaneers at center, but he’s been a guard going back through his college days at Temple and Dayton.
Glasgow sliding into center would mean Kayode Awosika moves back into the starting lineup at left guard. Awosika did that in the Week 6 win over the Buccaneers, with a mixed bag of results. Fifth-round rookie Colby Sorsdal and veteran Dan Skipper would represent the rest of the OL depth at all positions. Skipper does have experience playing guard and tackle, and the Lions are training college tackle Sorsdal to become a guard.
Given that left tackle Taylor Decker has not been 100 percent for weeks and right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai missed a month with a knee injury before returning last week (and playing very much like a guy who hadn’t played in a month), troubling decisions are possible.
Niese is one of three linemen on the practice squad, along with UDFA tackle Connor Galvin and international program player Max Pircher, who is primarily a tackle as well.
The hope is the Lions can limp through the game against the Raiders and get to the bye week to rest and rehab the myriad injuries.
