Lions announce Frank Ragnow won't come out of retirement to play this season after failing a physical

Days after it was announced that longtime center Frank Ragnow was coming out of retirement to rejoin the Detroit Lions, the team said on Saturday that the reunion will not be happening.

According to the Lions, the 29-year-old Ragnow failed a physical after it revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that would have kept him out for the rest of the 2025 regular season.

"Frank Ragnow reported to our facility yesterday and went through the normal process of meetings. 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."

Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowler, had been away from the Lions during OTAs this past summer, and there was speculation that he was unhappy with his contract. Ragnow was signed through the 2026 season, and was due to make a little more than $9 million in 2025.

But Ragnow opted to retire from the league completely in June after seven seasons with the franchise. The Lions first selected him with the No. 20 overall pick in 2018 out of Arkansas, and he became a cornerstone of their offensive line.

Ragnow had battled several injuries in recent years, too. He has dealt with toe problems, knee and ankle injuries and played through last season with a partially torn pectoral muscle. Undoubtedly, that injury management went into his decision to retire.

Had Ragnow been cleared to play, he would have been available to suit for the first time this season in Week 14 against the Los Angeles Rams.

The Lions fell on Thanksgiving to the Green Bay Packers and sit 7-5 and third in the NFC North, just outside the conference playoff picture. Detroit is working toward a third straight playoff appearance this season, which is something they haven’t pulled off since the early 1990s. They went 15-2 last season and lost in an upset to the Washington Commanders in the divisional round of the postseason.