Sunday’s matchup between the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints was paused late in the second quarter after a sideline official suffered what appeared to be a serious leg injury in a collision with Alvin Kamara.
According to NOLA.com, Nick Piazza suffered a dislocated knee and is recovering at a downtown New Orleans hospital. He’s not expected to need surgery on the injury.
The broadcast briefly showed the official, confirmed by the NFL to be a member of the chain crew, writhing in pain on the ground after Kamara tumbled into his lower legs. The official was taken off the field on a stretcher with an air cast on his left leg.
Detroit was up 21-7 at the time of the injury and went on to win 33-28. The NFL said the chain crew would operate with one fewer member for the rest of the game.
The Detroit Lions’ momentum in the first half of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints came to a screeching halt when Frank Ragnow left the game with an injury.
The setback was officially diagnosed as a knee injury, and Ragnow failed to return to the game. In his absence, the Lions inserted Colby Sorsdal at right guard, and shifted Graham Glasgow over to take Ragnow’s place at center.
Following the game, a 33-28 win for the Lions, Dan Campbell provided an update on Ragnow’s status moving forward.
“Nothing, we won’t know till tomorrow,” Campbell explained. “At first, coming off, it was sounding like one thing, and then after the fact, it sounded like something maybe a little bit different. One was not as good, one sounds more positive. So, I won’t know until tomorrow.”
Campbell clarified that the second update was the more encouraging one, though not specifying what either was.
Ragnow has been dealing with other injuries throughout the season, and takes practice off at times to rest his body.
