Frank Ragnow walking back into the Lions facility this week almost felt like a movie moment.Detroit fans had spent months wondering whether the retired Pro Bowler might give the team one more push, and suddenly there he was in Allen Park for an official physical. After a season full of protection issues and tough losses, the timing seemed too perfect.
Ragnow had stepped away from football in June, a surprising decision considering he was still regarded as one of the league’s elite centers. Even through multiple injuries, he remained a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the most respected players in the building. Reports from outlets like ESPN and NFL.com repeatedly highlighted how he battled through pain while anchoring Detroit’s offensive line. When he retired, he said it was because his body simply couldn’t keep doing it.
That made Friday’s appearance even more intriguing. Detroit’s offensive line has clearly missed him. Pro Football Reference shows quarterback Jared Goff has been sacked 26 times, which puts him on track for a career-high in Detroit. After falling to the Packers on Thanksgiving and dropping to 7-5, fans were ready for any kind of spark.
Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior… He will forever be a Lion
A comeback turns into a shutdown
Those hopes didn’t last long. According to a team press release, Ragnow’s physical revealed a grade three hamstring strain. It’s the most severe form of hamstring injury, typically involving a full tear and months of recovery. Sports medicine experts and past analyses in The Athletic have described these injuries as particularly tough for offensive linemen because of the constant torque and explosiveness required.
The Lions announced the diagnosis soon after: Ragnow would not be returning this season. In their social post, the team called him a “true warrior” and emphasized that “he will forever be a Lion.” It was a surprising emotional tone for a player who had been back in the building only briefly.
Ragnow’s original retirement message now hits differently. In June, he admitted he had been “trying to convince myself that I’m feeling good but I’m not” and said it was time to prioritize his health and his family’s future. That honesty now looks like recognition of a reality he couldn’t escape.
With the injury confirmed, Detroit moves forward without the comeback fans hoped for and without the veteran presence their offensive line desperately needed. The Lions remain in the playoff hunt, but their final stretch just got a lot tougher.
Read the full article here
