Allen Park — It’s been quite a summer for Frank Ragnow, and there’s still a few months left.
But the Detroit Lions center on Tuesday gave a positive update regarding the lingering toe injury that’s plagued him since the 2020 season.
“I’m feeling pretty good, man. I know I let this slip this offseason where I said ‘inoperable’ and just kind of maybe got a little blown out of the water,” Ragnow said. “I’m feeling really good. Right now, I’m in a good space, mentally especially, and I’m feeling really good out there.”
Still, it’s probably best to take this with a grain of salt. Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley said during the offseason program that Ragnow would have to come to terms with “not ever being the same,” and Ragnow’s words Tuesday came fresh off six weeks of rest.
“I feel like we’ve said (the whole offensive line is healthy) for the past three years,” Ragnow said. “Just gotta hope we get through training camp as healthy as possible. You know, it always seems like it catches up to us. And man, if we can keep it going, I think it can be pretty good. We gotta take it one day at a time and Hank did a great job making sure that we’re always working and we’re always finding a way to get better.”
Ragnow missed the final 13 games of the 2021 season after initially suffering the turf toe injury. He missed just one game last year — Week 2 against Washington, because of a groin issue — but his toe injury had him listed as questionable in six games of 2022.
Ragnow credits the team’s new training staff for the way he’s feeling. The team hired Brett Fischer as director of player health and performance and Mike Sundeen as the new head athletic trainer this offseason.
“I think we all realize how quickly, in this league, things can change. I think it’s been a huge addition with this new training staff,” Ragnow said. “Both the old and the new have been just great in helping to do a lot of prehab and rehab, making sure that we’re ready to roll. … It’s been a group effort.
“Everybody’s been working to make sure that this freakin’ big toe is in the best place it can be.”
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @nolanbianchi