Lions on track to have healthy unit vs. Cowboys, including Frank Ragnow and Brian Branch

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions didn't actually practice Wednesday, but they did release an injury report where they estimated what the availabilities of their players would be.

Only three players were on the report — offensive linemen Frank Ragnow (pec) and Christian Mahogany (illness) and defensive back Brian Branch (illness) — and each was estimated to be a full participant if practice had occurred.

Ragnow being an estimated full participant, while not totally unexpected given his history of battling through injuries, is the most significant news. He hasn't played in a game since Week 3, as he was held out of the Week 4 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks and the Lions had a bye in Week 5.

"Frank, man, as we all know, this guy is as throwback as it gets. He will play through any injury, and he'll will himself to go," head coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday in an interview with 97.1 The Ticket. "Look, as with anybody, here we go in Week 4 and you've played a number of years, you're never gonna feel like you were when you were 21 again. They understand that, he understands it.

"I know this — this was last week, actually almost right before Seattle, I walked down there to go talk to our trainer and somebody punches me against the wall. I'm not even paying attention because I'm looking at our trainer, and I keep walking and then I get punched again. I realize it's Frank, and he's trying to show me that his pec is great. That's his way of telling me, 'Look how strong I am. It's good. It's healed.' He's in a good mindset, he's ready and he wants to go."

Branch entered concussion protocol after being involved in a violent collision against the Cardinals on Sept. 22. He looked on track to play the Seahawks on Sept. 30, but he was a late addition to the injury report that week and was ultimately held out with an illness.

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