Detroit Lions All-Pro center Frank Ragnow returned to the practice field on Friday, as did right guard Graham Glasgow, despite the fact that head coach Dan Campbell told reporters before practice he didn't anticipate Glasgow practicing Friday.
Ragnow sat out Wednesday's practice as a rest day and also sat out Thursday with what was listed as a back injury on Thursday's practice report. Ragnow is the leading vote getter for the Pro Bowl among centers as he's allowed just two sacks all season and ranks third at the position as a run blocker by Pro Football Focus.
Glasgow has started every game this season, including Week 4 vs. Seattle at center, and he's one of the leading vote getters for the Pro Bowl at guard along with teammate Kevin Zeitler. Glasgow battled through a knee injury vs. Buffalo and finished the game but sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday. Even a limited return to practice on Friday is a positive step toward him potentially being able to go Sunday in Chicago.
View photos from Detroit Lions practice on Wednesday, December 18, 2024.
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell (46) and Detroit Lions linebacker Ezekiel Turner (47) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions safety Loren Strickland (24) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold (0) and Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions linebacker Abraham Beauplan (48) and Detroit Lions linebacker Kwon Alexander (10) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) and Detroit Lions safety Erick Hallett (36) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates (39) and Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox (3) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions cornerback Amik Robertson (21) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones (19) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions offensive lineman Giovanni Manu (59) and Detroit Lions tackle Dan Skipper (70) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Sione Vaki (33) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions running back Craig Reynolds (13) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Allen Robinson (8) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams (9) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
Detroit Lions tight end James Mitchell (82) during practice at the Meijer Performance Center in Allen Park, MI on December 18, 2024. (Josh Mandujano/Detroit Lions via AP)
"He's got a couple of things going on, just trying to get him to recover here a little bit, but I don't see him practicing," Campbell said of Glasgow before practice Friday. "So, I'll know a lot more this afternoon with him."
If Glasgow can't go, Campbell said he felt good about all three backup options – veterans Michael Niese and Kayode Awosika and rookie Christian Mahogany.
MONTGOMERY REHAB
The Lions originally thought the knee injury suffered by running back David Montgomery last week vs. Buffalo would require surgery and be a season-ender. That plan was on hold this week as Montgomery sought a third opinion in the hopes that rehabbing the injury would allow his to return for the playoffs.
Campbell said the most recent opinions have been more positive.
"That's optimistic with a couple of doctors that he saw, the last two," Campbell said. "So, I think we may see where this thing goes. We've still got a decision to make because even if that is the case it's a matter of, do you put him on IR, do you see how fast he can come back from it, all that. But it certainly sounds more optimistic, that's probably the best way to say it."
FREE KICK
We got to see a little bit of an rarity Thursday in the Broncos-Chargers game.
With no time left on the clock in the first half, Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker converted a 57-yard fair-catch field goal, the first free kick since 1976, cutting the Broncos' lead to eight points in an eventual 34-27 win for the Chargers.
How far back would Campbell trust Jake Bates to make a swing at a free kick?
"I mean, that's a good question. You would have that option with the guy that we have because he does have the leg," he said. "I mean, that's tough to say exactly where you would — right now, where I would be comfortable saying, 'Let's swing at it.'
"But it is — it's a free kick and those are so rare when they come up because they need to be pinned, you've got to be pinned way back there, you get the fair catch, 'OK, well, do you have the distance to get there?' And we do have a kicker that's got a pretty good leg, so, I mean, obviously minus territory, you can do it. Depends on how far in minus territory, but that's such a rare thing for it to come up."
Campbell said it was a good reminder to the coaches and players of situational football that can pop up at any point throughout the course of a football game.
"It's actually good because it's one of those you talk about every once in a while, one of those game situations, but they don't ever come up," he said. "I mean we've finally got fresh tape to be able to show the guys, 'Hey, this can happen.' So, anyway, it was interesting."
EXTRA POINTS
- Campbell said cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has had his best week of practice since suffering an injury in pregame warmups a few weeks back that has contributed to him being inactive the last few weeks. The Lions could look to Moseley to play a role in the secondary with Carlton Davis III (jaw) on IR.
- Campbell hasn't made a decision yet if safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, who had his practice window begin Wednesday from IR, will be ready to play Sunday in Chicago.
