Frank Ragnow reverses surprising retirement, rejoining the Lions to fortify their struggling offensive line for a playoff push.
After he shockingly retired in June at just 29-years-old, center Frank Ragnow made another stunning decision on Wednesday to return from retirement and re-join the Detroit Lions, per Eric Woodward of ESPN. Wednesday was the league deadline for Ragnow to be eligible to still play this season, as players on club’s reserve-retired list have to be reinstated before the Week 13 game.
It's a massive boost for a struggling Lions offensive line, one that has not been the same since Ragnow’s retirement on June 2, which sent shockwaves around the NFL. While he won’t be eligible to play in the Thanksgiving matchup against NFC North divisional opponent the Green Bay Packers, Ragnow is set to make a considerable impact in the team’s final stretch. Sources tell ESPN that a likely return for Ragnow is Detroit’s Dec. 14 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.
Here is the full story from Lions Roundtable writer Adam Stark on Ragnow’s surprising decision and how much the team’s offensive line stands to improve from his return.
Ragnow was a top center in the league over his seven-year career, despite battling through multiple injuries. However, he only missed Detroit’s Week 4 game last season and made 16 appearances with a partially torn pectoral muscle. The 7-4 Lions have since moved forward with veteran Graham Glasgow.
They haven’t exactly enjoyed stability in the trenches with Glasgow assuming the role. They currently rank No. 24 in the league in pass blocking, while quarterback Jared Goff has the 12th most sacks in the league ahead of Week 13. Ragnow’s reasoning was simple: “he loves the game.” Now, Detroit may be poised for a deep playoff push.