Frank Ragnow would like to have a happy Thanksgiving this year.
Detroit's veteran center said he hasn't really enjoyed the holiday like he should because the Lions have never won on their annual Thanksgiving Day game in his tenure in Detroit.
"Usually, in the past years it's been like don't really want to talk to my family, all upset about everything," Ragnow said this week. "So, I'd really like to enjoy Thanksgiving and put on a show for the crowd cause it's a unique environment and we don't take it for granted. It's a special, special game and it'd be really nice to get a W."
The Lions have lost seven straight Thanksgiving Day games dating back to 2017, the latest a 29-22 defeat at the hands of the Green Bay Packers last season.
Detroit hosts Chicago this week, who have lost five straight games, but are getting much better play from rookie quarterback Caleb Williams after the Bears made a switch at offensive coordinator earlier this month. Williams threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions for a 103.1 passer rating in an overtime loss to Minnesota last Sunday.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said his main message to players this week was about getting rest and recovery on a short week. He emphasized Thursday being more about beating a division opponent and the higher importance that comes with division games, but he did acknowledge that snapping the losing streak on Thanksgiving would be an added bonus.
"It'd be nice to feel good about it when you're with everybody because it's just not really fun," he said. "It's not real fun to be around. Ask my wife, she'll tell you. Like that's why she's praying for a win big time because she knows that I'm a bear when we don't win, so we all want it. It is long overdue, but we have to win to win."
For a veteran player like Ragnow, he'd like to mark a Thanksgiving win off his career to-do list and enjoy a happy holiday evening around family.
"It's such a special, unique thing to Detroit and we need to capitalize on that," he said. "We need to make it as special as it is. I think we've all got that in the back of our mind."
INJURY UPDATES
Campbell said Tuesday he feels good about wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and running back David Montgomery being available Thursday against the Bears. St. Brown has been rehabbing a knee injury suffered Sunday in Indianapolis and Montgomery has been dealing with a shoulder injury.
"Yeah, I feel pretty good about Saint, actually," Campbell said. "David last week wanted to get back in that game. He was good and I held him back just to be on the safe side and he was not happy."
St. Brown leads the Lions with 71 receptions for 747 yards and nine touchdowns. Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs form the top running back duo in the NFL for the league's No. 4 rushing attack (150.8) with Montgomery rushing for 632 yards (4.4 avg.) and 11 touchdowns.
Campbell said he wasn't as confident about cornerback Carlton Davis III (thumb/knee), tackle Taylor Decker (knee) and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (foot) playing Thursday.
HOUSTON RELEASED
The Lions waived third-year defensive lineman James Houston on Tuesday. After recording eight sacks in seven games at the end of his rookie season in 2022, Houston never matched that kind of production and was seeing limited reps on gameday.
"It just didn't (work out)," Campbell said of Houston's release. "We had James up for a number of games, came back off the injury and got back, and it just never quite worked out. And look, wish him the best of luck and sometimes you just need a fresh start, and this could be great for him. So, wish him the best."
SCOUTING REPORT
Williams has been playing much better football since the Bears replaced offensive coordinator Shane Waldron with Thomas Brown a couple weeks ago.
In two games since the change, both close losses to the Packers and Vikings, Williams has completed 55-of-78 passes for 571 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 99.9 passer rating.
Campbell said he noticed a much more composed Williams on tape over the last couple weeks.
"What I've been impressed with is just he has grown, he has grown every game but these last two I really feel like he's taken off," Campbell said.
"What they're doing with him has been really good for him and he just looks very composed. He doesn't get frazzled, plays pretty fast, and he's an accurate passer, big arm, and he's got some guys that can get open for him."
