An injury-stricken Lions offensive line will receive a surprise boost. Frank Ragnow is ready to return out of retirement, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms.
The previous Pro Bowl center retired after the 2024 season, one which featured him play through a major injury. With the Lions down multiple pieces up front, an impact player is coming back. This week marked the deadline for players on a reserve/retired list to be activated to play this season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. That deadline, which loomed today for the Lions attributable to their Thanksgiving matchup, has proven to be slightly vital for this yr’s Detroit edition.
Playing without guard starter Christian Mahogany (who’s on IR), the Lions have seen Ragnow successor Graham Glasgow miss practice this week with a knee injury. Glasgow has been ruled out for Thursday. Glasgow, who has logged extensive time at center and guard throughout his profession in Detroit and Denver, might be an choice to fill in for Mahogany at guard once Ragnow returns. The Lions, are also unlikely to see left tackle Taylor Decker at full strength this season, would definitely profit from Ragnow returning to motion. Although the seven-year starter had been retired, he is simply 29.
When asked about this case earlier this month, Dan Campbell had said the ship had sailed. However the fifth-year HC, who’s back in a play-calling role, can have a probability to oversee Ragnow again. Ragnow had been one among the NFL’s best centers on the time of retirement. He walked away in June, making a surprise announcement. The Lions retained his rights, as the previous first-rounder’s extension ran through the 2026 season. It should definitely be value monitoring if Ragnow views this as a one-off or if he can be fascinated about sticking around beyond 2025.
As for Ragnow’s current readiness, Rapoport indicates the achieved blocker should find a way to return to motion “sooner, slightly than later.” Ragnow is clearly not coming back for the Lions’ Thanksgiving game against the Packers, and Schefter pours cold water on a return next Thursday against the Cowboys. A Week 15 debut (against the Rams) is believed to be in play, nevertheless. This timetable is encouraging for a Lions team that had the posh of top-level center play for an prolonged period.
Ragnow earned second-team All-Pro acclaim 3 times from 2020-24. With Jason Kelce gobbling up first-team All-Pro nods as he built a rock-solid Hall of Fame case, second-team All-Pro distinctions became the de facto ceiling for others on the position. And Ragnow played hurt en path to the second-team honor behind Creed Humphrey in 2024. Although Brandon Graham and Darren Waller have unretired this season, Ragnow represents — at this stage of his profession — a higher-quality player returning. This might make a substantial difference for a Lions team in a heated NFC North battle.
Ragnow received his most up-to-date All-Pro nod despite suffering a torn pectoral muscle early within the 2024 season. The 2018 first-round pick anchored a dominant Lions offensive line, joining Decker and Penei Sewell as pillars for a team that motored to 15-2 behind its offense.
Detroit lost dependable guard Kevin Zeitler within the offseason, replacing him with second-round pick Tate Ratledge. But Ragnow’s mid-offseason retirement brought Glasgow back to center — where he last played in 2022. The return has not gone easily; Pro Football Focus ranks him twenty eighth on the position. Substitute LG Kayode Awosika has also been a slight step back from Mahogany, prompting PFF to rank the Lions’ O-line — one among the NFL’s best position groups in 2024 — tenth ahead of Week 13.
The Lions prolonged Ragnow on a four-year, $54MM deal — on the time, this was the NFL’s top center pact — during Campbell and GM Brad Holmes‘ first yr (2021). That proved a timely signing for Ragnow, who suffered a season-ending injury early in 2021. His return helped catalyze the Campbell mission, because the Lions stormed to 9-8 after a 1-6 start. They then finished 13-4 in 2023 and steamrolled to the NFC’s No. 1 seed last season. Defensive injuries did in Detroit, which lost Ben Johnson to Chicago. Campbell yanking the play sheet from alternative John Morton was obviously not a great sign for the OC, and the Lions sit 7-4 — third within the NFC North — ahead of an important Packers tilt.
Following the Cowboys contest, the Lions close the season with games against the Rams, Steelers, Vikings and Bears. Ragnow being available for the ultimate 4 games would stand to be a key variable within the NFC playoff race.