Calvin Johnson chats with Shelia Ford Hamp before Lions game
Detroit Lions legend Calvin Johnson chats with owner Shelia Ford Hamp on the sidelines before the Thanksgiving Day game vs. Green Bay Packers at Ford Field on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025.
Frank Ragnow’s comeback is over.
The Detroit Lions announced that Ragnow failed a physical with the team Friday, Nov. 29, two days after they removed him from the reserved/retired list in hopes of getting a boost for the playoffs.
Ragnow had a Grade 3 hamstring strain, the Lions said in a statement.
“Frank Ragnow reported to our facility yesterday and went through the normal process of meetings,” the statement read. “Unfortunately, during the routine meeting with our medical team, Frank failed his physical.
“The medical exam revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will keep him from participating for the remainder of the regular season. For that reason, Frank will not be rejoining the Lions. Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior. He will forever be a Lion.”
Lions coach Dan Campbell said he’s not sure if Ragnow will continue his comeback attempt in 2026 and beyond.
Ragnow, 29, had two season left on his contract, this year and next, when he retired abruptly in June. He made four Pro Bowls in seven seasons, was a three-time second-team All-Pro and battled a slew of injuries throughout his career.
“That was never discussed,” Campbell said in a Zoom with Detroit reporters that was scheduled before Ragnow underwent his physical. “It was just once we realized the severity of it, he did, then it just, that’s where it went. So nothing was discussed past the news that you guys just got.”
Campbell said Ragnow, who had been mulling coming out of retirement for about a month, according to left tackle Taylor Decker, disclosed to the team “he had a little bit of” a hamstring injury before deciding Wednesday, Nov. 26, he wanted to play this year.
Wednesday was the deadline for Ragnow to unretire and be eligible to play this season.
“We just didn’t know the severity of it until we had the final physical and all the tests that were run that we do with anybody we bring in,” Campbell said. “So yeah, we had an idea, we just didn’t know it was going to be that extent.”
The Lions’ offense, led by one of the best lines in the NFL the past few years, has struggled in Ragnow’s absence this season.
They’ve allowed 26 sacks in 12 games, are scoring four fewer points per game than they did last season and have dealt with injuries and communication issues at times up front.
Graham Glasgow moved from left guard to center to replace Ragnow in training camp and is one of the lowest-graded centers in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus, and the Lions have relied primarily on first-year starters rookie Tate Ratledge and second-year pro Christian Mahogany at right and left guard.
Glasgow missed the Lions’ Thanksgiving loss to the Green Bay Packers with a knee injury and Mahogany is out likely until the playoffs with a broken bone in his leg. Decker also has battled a shoulder injury all year.
Campbell said he does not know Glasgow’s availability for next week’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, but that Trystan Colon “did some good things” in his first start at center against the Packers.
“There was a little up and down, but, man, I thought he brought a lot of energy, I thought most of his ID’s were on point and I thought he did some good things,” Campbell said. “And I think the more he plays, the better he can get, too.”
While the Lions, losers of four of their past seven games, were counting on Ragnow to help them make a playoff push, Campbell said his loss won’t be an emotional drain on the team.
“I mean, look, of course we’re disappointed just because Frank’s such a good dude and a great teammate and he’s a productive player,” he said. “But at the same time, he’s injured, too, and so man, you quickly move off of that and know what it is and he’s not playing and it’s all good, man. We adjust, we move on and we’re onto Dallas now, so we’ve been going.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.