After fighting through injuries, Lions' Ragnow needs rest, maybe more surgery

Allen Park — Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow needs a break, preferably a long one. He also might need surgery, or maybe two, but those decisions will come at a later date, when he has more time to carefully weigh his options.

We knew about the toe, and the more we learned about it, the more we understood it was going to be a chronic issue. It's the same toe that required surgery and sidelined him most of the 2021 season. He didn't want that surgery, he wanted to play through the pain, but was convinced it was best for his long-term health. Then he reaggravated his first game back. At this stage, it's inoperable. He'll probably be dealing with it the rest of his career and beyond.

Yet there was optimism coming into this season. Even with that discomfort and lack of stability, he had still managed to play at a Pro Bowl level a year ago. And Detroit's revamped training staff, led by director of player health and performance Brett Fischer and head athletic trainer Mike Sundeen, developed a series of treatments and exercises, that when combined with Ragnow's reduced practice schedule, had him comfortable and confident entering the 2023 campaign.

But the toe became just a fraction of Ragnow's worries as this season progressed, and by the end of the year, his list of ailments on the weekly practice report read like a children's song: Back, ankle, knee and toe (knee and toe).

Despite the war wounds, Ragnow missed just two starts. The toe got bad enough that he was held out of a late October game against the Raiders. He was also sidelined in early December by a knee injury. Maybe that's all we would have known has his brother not revealed on social media Ragnow underwent midseason surgery to repair a damaged meniscus.

Teammates and coaches marveled when he returned to the lineup after sitting out only one game, and he didn't miss a single offensive snap (271, to be exact) the rest of the season. He also didn't miss a snap when he got rolled up on from behind, injuring both his knee and ankle in the postseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had to be helped off the field after a drive-ending sack, but was back out there the next series, and the next and the next and the next.

The Lions ran 201 offensive plays in the postseason. Ragnow snapped the ball 100% of them.

Offensive linemen are tough. It might as well one of science's Laws of Nature. But Ragnow, he's on a different plane than his peers. Fueled by the wholesome principle of not wanting to let his teammates down, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him show up at the stadium on Sunday in a hospital gown with an IV still attached to his arm. Remember, the man once played through fractured cartilage in his throat.

He couldn't talk for days after that game. But he could breathe, so he was going to play. That and a pulse often feel like his only requirements.

But it doesn't mean he's not hurting. On Monday, still dealing with the harsher sting of falling a step short of the Super Bowl the day before, you could see it in his eyes when he was asked how much time it would take before he expects he'll feel right, or as close to normal as his mangled toe will allow him.

"I think this year, it's going to take some time," Ragnow said. "I just need to be healthy. It takes a toll on you. It really takes a toll on you, so I need to find a way to get back to Frank.

"I don't regret any of this at all, but it weighs on you. I'm just going to take some time and really figure everything out to make sure that I'm feeling good, not only for me the football player, but for me to be the best husband and best father and everything with that as well."

On Wednesday, Ragnow withdrew from this week's Pro Bowl. Even with the decreased demands of the all-star game, particularly for offensive and defensive linemen, getting a jump start on the healing process proved to be more important.

jdrogers@detroitnews.com

Twitter/X: @Justin_Rogers