Lions training camp medical preview: Offensive line

USA Today

6 days ago

The offensive line group was pretty healthy last season and added a couple more young, healthy players in the draft in Tate Ratledge and Miles Frazier.
There aren't many health concerns for this group entering the season. The main issue may finding quality backups for Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker who are advancing in age. The other big question is who will be replacing the retired Frank Ragnow at center.
The continued strong performance of the offensive line will be a huge key for the 2025 season. The Lions team identity has centered around an elite running game since Dan Campbell took over. This preseason will be fascinating as there are many young, unproven players who will battle it out for important starting and backup roles on the team.
Ten offensive linemen made the initial 53-man roster last season (Decker, Glasgow, Ragnow, Kevin Zeitler, Penei Sewell, Colby Sorsdal, Kayode Awosika, Gio Manu, Dan Skipper, Michael Niese).
Here is the list of offensive linemen starting with the players with the biggest medical question marks entering the season. Ages are at the start of the season.
#1: Graham Glasgow - 33yo
Glasgow is the biggest offensive line health concern heading into the season. A reliable, solid player for most of his career, his performance dipped last season possibly due to knee injuries. He was listed twice with an unspecified knee last season and missed one game due to it. There was no specific injury seen on video last year.
The offseason news is good so far as he was a full participant at OTA last month.
Projection: Glasgow starts at the RG position in Week 1. Hopefully last season was an aberration and we see a return to form.
#2: Taylor Decker - 32yo
Decker suffered multiple minor injuries last season including a right pec strain, a rotator cuff (1 game missed), and a right MCL/ankle (2 games missed). None of those issues are of significant concern heading into the season. He was a full participant at OTA which is a great sign.
The prior offseason, he had a toe sesamoidectomy which is something to monitor for the rest of his career. As seen with Ragnow, a big toe issue can have career-ending ramifications.
Decker was surprisingly placed on PUP at the start of camp but the fact that he was a full participant at June OTA is reassuring. Good chance his PUP stint is brief.
Projection: Decker enters the season in good health and continues to lock down the LT position as he has the past nine seasons.
#3: Tate Ratledge - 24yo
His slightly-older rookie age means he needs to contribute as soon as possible. We saw that already in OTA where he was starting at the center position in place of Ragnow.
Off-the-field, Ratledge also appears to be a Ragnow reincarnate.
Medically, there are some significant surgeries in his past. He enters his rookie season healthy though.
The main concern was that he was part of the 2nd-round rookie class that remained predominantly unsigned. A couple teams at the top of the second round (Browns & Texans) broke rank by giving out fully-guaranteed contracts which caused problems for all the other teams.
Fortunately, dominos began to fall around him, and Ratledge agreed to terms on July 17.
Projection: With Ratledge signed, sealed, and delivered in time for the start of camp, he's a day 1 starter at center. While there may be some growing pains, he is expected to lock down the position for many years.
#4: Christian Mahogany - 24yo
Mahogany performed well in limited action last season. The mononucleosis that knocked him out of last year's training camp and the early part of the season is of no concern. Of more importance, he has a history of a right ACL tear in 2022 and was wearing a right knee brace all last season.
He was a full participant starter at OTA at the LG position and enters camp healthy.
Projection: Mahogany is the starter at LG in Week 1.
#5: Dan Skipper - 30yo
Skipper played through a painful, suspected rib injury last season. Despite the injury, he was available in every game and enters the season healthy. His age means that the Lions are actively trying to develop a replacement.
Projection: Skipper performed well as the jumbo TE and primary OT backup last season and starts the season again in that role.
#6: Netane Muti - 26yo
Muti has a significant medical history with a pec rupture, Lisfranc, and Achilles rupture. He missed all last season due to the pec. He's still young which hopefully helps him going forward. He was a full participant at OTA which is a good sign.
Projection: Muti's riddled injury history makes it an uphill battle for him to find a spot on the team.
#7: Jamarco Jones - 29yo
Jones has a history of a high ankle sprain and shoulder in his past. He played four offensive snaps with the Lions last season and enters the season healthy.
Projection: Jones will compete for a backup OT position.
#8: Kayode Awosika - 26yo
Awosika has been a valuable reserve OG for the Lions the past three seasons. Last year, he played 147 offensive snaps. He enters the season healthy.
Projection: His solid performance in previous years gives Awosika an edge in winning a backup job.
#9: Giovanni Manu - 24yo
The Lions traded up to grab Manu in the 2024 4th-round in the hopes he will develop into a quality OT. He didn't see the field as a rookie last season, and it's time to show progress as he enters his second year.
Projection: Preseason will be big for Manu as he tries to overtake Skipper for the primary backup OT job. Even if he doesn't win that job, he still makes the 53-man roster. His young age and potential gives him an edge over his competition.
#10: Kingsley Eguakun - 24yo
Eguakun had his final college season in 2023 shortened due to an ankle injury, but that shouldn't be a major concern now.
He joined the Lions as an undrafted rookie last year but didn't see any action. Early signs this offseason suggest he is in strong contention for a backup position. Jeff Risdon recently observed that Eguakun was the primary center backup at OTA.
Projection: His young age gets him a role at least on the practice squad.
#11: Colby Sorsdal - 25yo
Sorsdal didn't see an offensive snap last season. He enters his 3rd year hoping to earn a backup position. Jeff Risdon observed during OTA that Sorsdal was taking some snaps at center which makes you wonder if it's a last-ditch effort to find him a role on the team. He was a full participant at OTA and enters camp healthy.
Projection: This preseason is crucial for Sorsdal as time may be running out for him. The position he plays during preseason will be interesting to see.
#12: Miles Frazier - 23yo
There were no medical concerns coming out of college for this 5th-round rookie. He was not a full participant at OTA, but there was no indication of a significant issue. Surprisingly, he was placed on PUP at the start of training camp for unknown reasons.
Positional versatility increases his value as he played OG and OT in college.
Projection: Let's assume the PUP stint is short. Frazier makes the 53-man roster as a backup who may end up playing key snaps if there are any injuries. Given his youth and health, it would be ideal for the team if earns the primary OG backup role in similar fashion to Mahogany last year.
#13: Michael Niese - 27yo
Niese played 35 snaps last season as a backup. He was a full participant at OTA and enters the season healthy.
Projection: Niese was an important backup center last season. We'll see if he can hold onto that role in spite of younger competitors like Eguakun.
#14: Trystan Colon - 27yo
Colon played all 17 games last year with the Cardinals. He was signed after Ragnow retired.
Projection: He's got a decent amount of playing experience in the NFL over the past two seasons which could be valuable.
#15: Penei Sewell - 24yo
There are no health concerns for this perennial All-Pro. He had multiple minor ankle sprains last season as well as an ugly left knee hyperflexion in the playoffs, but did not miss a single game. He was a full participant in June OTA.
Projection: This 4th-year player is still implausibly young. Entering the season, Sewell is favored to win the NFL's new Protector-of-the-Year award which goes to the best offensive lineman.