The Detroit Lions spent most of the spring practicing without three-fifths of their starting offensive line.

Taylor Decker was recovering from offseason foot and ankle surgery. Frank Ragnow rarely takes part in spring workouts because of chronic toe problems. And Kevin Zeitler did not participate in most open practices because of injury.

But Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley said his veteran group will be intact when training camp rolls around and won't be playing catchup while integrating one new starter into its mix.

"We’ll really get it when training camp comes up front," Fraley said. "When the pads go on. We like to joke around, this is like being in underwear for us up front. D-line and O-line, it’s tough. That’s where we’re going to join, get it."

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Decker, Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Penei Sewell return as starters on one of the NFL's best units, though Glasgow is moving from right to left guard this fall and Zeitler is a new addition after making his first Pro Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens last season.

Fraley said Zeitler, the oldest member of a starting unit whose average age will be 29.6 years old when the season kicks off, spent enough time around the team this spring to bridge any terminology gaps he'll encounter learning a new offense and getting accustomed to playing alongside new personnel in camp.

"He’s got a lot of experience," Fraley said. "He’s doing new things, a little bit of new technique maybe he hasn’t been asked in a while to do. Offensively, we do a lot here, a lot of variety, and it’s been fun for him. Some of it can be challenging for him, which is good, to keep you engaged. So it’s been good for the room, and these guys get along, they gel and he’s been professional. I think that’s what guys get to see."

The Lions have a host of young backups competing for jobs on the interior line in Kayode Awosika, who also missed much of the spring with an injury; Colby Sorsdal, who played primarily right tackle this offseason and should serve as a backup guard/tackle this fall; rookie sixth-round pick Christian Mahogany; and Netane Muti, who signed a futures deal in February.

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Fraley said that group has benefitted simply from being around Zeitler, 34, and Glasgow, who turns 32 in July, this spring.

"We do have our, you would say, 'Hey, these are our starting five,'" Fraley said. "But what’s great about those guys, they know those young guys are always pushing for that seat, too. We’re going to challenge those five up front to be better, and behind there, who’s your sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and then you got your practice squad guys. Maybe you have 10 O-linemen on the roster sometimes. But that’s something they don’t have to think about. That’s something they let their work do the speaking and that’s what we’re excited for."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions veteran OL missed a lot of spring. Why it's no big deal