Detroit Lions' Frank Ragnow avoids serious injury, suffers 'minor' ankle sprain

The Detroit Lions got at least some good news Saturday as center Frank Ragnow avoided serious injury in the team's preseason loss to the Buffalo Bills.

NFL Network reported that Ragnow suffered only a "minor ankle sprain" in the second quarter of Friday's game, when he had to be helped off the field by two Lions trainers.

A source with knowledge of the situation expressed optimism to the Free Press early Saturday that Ragnow would miss only minimal time with his injury, though the second-year lineman was to undergo an MRI later in the day to confirm the severity of his injury.

Lions coach Matt Patricia said in a conference call Saturday that neither Ragnow's injury nor Jarrad Davis' are season-ending.

Ragnow played every snap but one at left guard as a rookie, but the Lions moved him to his more natural position of center this fall to take advantage of his power as a blocker.

Ragnow was injured on a second-and-goal play with about 9 minutes left in the first half, when Bills defensive end Sh rolled into his right leg while Ragnow pulled left on a running play.

Trainers examined Ragnow's knee and lower leg on the field, and a cart was summoned to help him to the locker room.

Davis suffered a right leg injury on the second snap from scrimmage and was carted to the locker room.

Davis' injury appeared to be the more serious of the two. He tried walking to the defensive huddle after teammate Devon Kennard tumbled into his leg, but immediately crumbled to the ground.

As Davis sat on a cart awaiting his ride up the Ford Field tunnel, teammates surrounded him offering prayers and well wishes.

Rookie Jahlani Tavai is in line to replace Davis at middle linebacker, should he miss extensive time. On Friday, the Lions moved Graham Glasgow back to center, where he played last season, to temporarily replace Ragnow.

Lions coach Matt Patricia is scheduled to address the media by conference call later Saturday.

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Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett. Read more on the Detroit Lions and sign up for our Lions newsletter.