An injury-stricken Lions offensive line will receive a surprise boost. Frank Ragnow is set to come out of retirement, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms.
The former Pro Bowl center retired after the 2024 season, one that featured him play through a significant 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 due to their Thanksgiving matchup, has proven to be rather important for this year’s Detroit edition.
Playing without guard starter Christian Mahogany (who is on IR), the Lions have seen Ragnow successor Graham Glasgow miss practice this week with a knee injury. He has been ruled out for Thursday. Glasgow, who has logged extensive time at center and guard throughout his career in Detroit and Denver, could be an option to fill in for Mahogany at guard once Ragnow returns. The Lions, who have also played without left tackle Taylor Decker at points this season, would certainly benefit from Ragnow returning to action. Although the seven-year starter retired, he is only 29.
When asked about this situation earlier this month, Dan Campbell had said the ship had sailed. But the fifth-year HC, who is back in a play-calling role, will have a chance to oversee Ragnow again. Ragnow had been one of the NFL’s best centers at the time of retirement. Ragnow walked away in June, making a surprise announcement. The Lions retained his rights, as the former first-rounder’s extension ran through the 2026 season. It will certainly be worth monitoring if Ragnow views this as a one-off or if he would be interested in sticking around beyond 2025.
As for Ragnow’s current readiness, Rapoport indicates the accomplished blocker should be able to return to action “sooner, rather than later.” Ragnow is obviously 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, however. This timetable is encouraging for a Lions team that had the luxury of top-level center play for an extended period.
Ragnow earned second-team All-Pro acclaim three 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 were quite impressive at this position. And Ragnow played hurt en route 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 career — a higher-quality player returning. This could make a considerable difference for a Lions team in a heated NFC North battle.
More to come.










