Lions bye week medical status report and outlook for return for players like Frank Ragnow, Derrick Barnes, Ifeatu Melifonwu and more
With four games in the books and entering the bye week, it’s a good time to recap where the Lions are at from a medical standpoint. Overall, despite some injuries, the Lions are in good shape coming out of the bye.
Not listed here are a couple pending concerns from the Seahawks game in Kerby Joseph and Carlton Davis (see my postgame article for details).
MAJOR LOSSES
Marcus Davenport, DE
Davenport missed game two due to a groin injury and game four due to a left elbow injury. The elbow is expected to be a season-ender.
Signed to a 1-year contract as a free agent, the Lions were hoping that Davenport would solidify the edge position opposite Aidan Hutchinson.
With Davenport out, Levi Onwuzurike, Josh Paschal, and James Houston will have increased opportunities.
Derrick Barnes, LB
This versatile LB took a direct impact on his right knee in game three, which may have caused a hyperextension, MCL sprain, and possibly more. He was placed on IR after the game.
The earliest he could return is Week 9 vs the Packers, but he’s expected to be out longer than that with the possibility it’s even a season-ender.
With Barnes out, Malcolm Rodriguez and Ben Niemann saw a big increase in snaps at the LB position against the Seahawks.
MINOR LOSSES
Frank Ragnow, C
This 2nd-team All-Pro is a major player, but he’s in the minor category because his left pec injury is not expected to be a long-term issue. He hurt the pec early in game three and missed game four.
The diagnosis is a partially-torn pec which translates to a grade 1 or 2 strain. If the strain is mild and does not involve the tendon, Ragnow could be back after the bye vs the Cowboys. Even if a longer recovery is needed, I would not expect him to be out much longer than that. He was not placed on IR which suggests an injury of less than four weeks.
To fill Ragnow’s void, Graham Glasgow moved from LG to C, and Kayode Awosika inserted at LG. Both played well against the Seahawks.
Ifeatu Melifonwu, S
A persistent ankle issue landed Melifonwu on IR before game four. The injury suffered likely in the second preseason game on August 17 was not initially expected to be a long-term issue, otherwise the Lions would have put him on IR much sooner. Melifonwu’s earliest possible return is in week nine vs the Packers.
If starters Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph stay healthy, Melifonwu’s absence is not a major problem. But if either go down, it would be valuable to have Melifonwu who made numerous splash plays in the second half of last season.
REINFORCEMENTS COMING SOON
Brodric Martin, DT
This 2023 3rd-round pick hyperextended his right knee on August 24 and was placed on IR at the 53-man cutdown. This means he could return to the team at any time now although Dan Campbell’s comments suggest he is not quite ready yet. I would expect him to start practicing sometime in the next three weeks.
With the loss of Davenport for the year, having Martin available on the defensive line will give the Lions more flexibility if they choose to play Levi Onwuzurike at the DE position.
Christian Mahogany, OG
The Lions 6th-round pick missed all of camp due to mononucleosis and started the season on NFI (non-football-injury). He is now eligible to return anytime and Dan Campbell says he is close.
His mono was likely diagnosed around July 20 and is typically a 3-4 week recovery unless there are complications like persistent splenomegaly. He was able to resume training before the start of the regular season which was a good sign.
Mahogany’s return is dependent on his strength, conditioning, and mental readiness. For a rookie who missed all of camp, the mental game might be the limiting factor.
I’m not expecting Mahogany to play much of a role this season, but any injuries to the guys ahead of him could change things in a hurry.
LONG RANGE HOPEFULS
Emmanuel Moseley, CB
After two straight ACL tears, Moseley tore his pec around August 5 this year. Assuming this was a complete rupture, expect a return around Thanksgiving if he follows the same 16-week timeline as CJ Gardner-Johnson of last year.
John Cominsky, DT/DE
An MCL tear on July 30 was complicated enough to require surgery. The initial estimated recovery was 5-6 months which would mean a return in January-February. Optimistically, the fact that Cominsky made the initial 53-man roster before being placed on IR means the Lions think there is a chance of a return this year.
