The Detroit Lions have downgraded starting center Frank Ragnow to OUT for the team’s Week 15 match-up with the Tennessee Titans.
Ragnow suffered a fractured throat in last Sunday’s game versus the Green Bay Packers and despite playing every snap that game, by the then end of it, he had lost the ability to talk.
After examination during the week, it was discovered that Ragnow’s injury existed in the vocal cord cartilage, not the bone, and fortunately, he was still able to breathe and swallow normally. Unfortunately, the stress on his vocal cords still prevented him from speaking.
Ragnow visited a specialist on Friday, and while the team listed him as questionable earlier in the day, it appears they were given further information on his status and downgraded him to out.
The Lions don’t carry a reserve center on the active roster, but starting left guard Jonah Jackson has experience playing center in college, and former starting guard Joe Dahl has been cross-trained at center since he arrived in Detroit in 2016. Dahl said on Thursday that he feels very comfortable at the position if called upon.
While there isn’t a true center on the 53-man roster, they do carry two on the practice squad: Marcus Martin and Evan Brown.
Martin has been with the Lions most of the season, was a protected practice squad player this week, and was previously elevated by the Lions in Week 9. He has 24 NFL starts under his belt and seems likely to be elevated once again this week — which typically happens on Saturday — if only to back up Jackson or Dahl.