Sources have revealed that multi-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow is ending his NFL retirement, as his team, the Detroit Lions, is set to play in one of the league’s Thanksgiving games. The major announcement also comes as the team looks to secure a spot in the NFL Playoffs amid a challenging season.
According to NFL insider Adam Schefter (via sources), Ragnow chose to unretire due to his “love of the game” as he’ll return to the team he began playing for seven years ago. The Lions initially drafted him at No. 20 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Read more: Lions’ Jared Goff Gets Honest About Playing Thanksgiving NFL Games
The deadline for Ragnow to end retirement was on Wednesday. On Wednesday evening, Schefter reported a new update that the Pro Bowler was officially reinstated from the team’s reserve/retired list. With that, they moved him to the “Exempt/Commissioner Permission List.”
Ragnow first announced his retirement in June, referencing injuries as a primary reason. He was steady throughout his career, playing in most seasons, except 2021, when he missed 13 games due to turf toe and was placed on the injured reserve list.
The former Arkansas Razorbacks player appeared in four Pro Bowls during his seven seasons with the team, and was a three-time Second Team All-Pro selection.
His reported decision to end retirement comes as the Lions face the Green Bay Packers in one of the NFL’s Thanksgiving games. However, Ragnow won’t participate in the game.
Based on the reinstatement timing, his first potential game could be next week against the Dallas Cowboys, but Schefter suggested that is unlikely. Instead, Schefter indicated his first game could realistically be on Dec. 13 versus the Los Angeles Rams.
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Football fans reacted to Schefter’s reports on X with a mix of comments about Ragnow unretiring to play for the Lions.
“Bro got tired of that retirement life real fast😂😂,” one fan commented.
“Massive game to return for. Rams/Lions feels like it could be an NFCCG preview,” a fan wrote on X.
Another fan commented, “Guy could play tomorrow and dominate if healthy I’m sure. He’s a tank.”
“Lions got an early Christmas present to say the least,” an X commenter wrote.
Detroit is currently among multiple NFC teams in the hunt for an NFL playoff spot. They’re currently 7-4, while Green Bay, projected for a playoff spot as of this writing, is 7-3-1. The Chicago Bears lead the division with a record of 8-3. They’ll face the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday as one of many NFL games featuring potential playoff teams during the holiday week and weekend.
Read more: Packers QB Jordan Love Shares Injury Update Before Thanksgiving Game
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