DETROIT — The Detroit Lions announced Saturday that four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow has failed his physical and will not play this season after all.
Ragnow, who announced his retirement in June following seven injury-plagued NFL seasons, had intended to unretire and rejoin the team. However, after reporting to the facility on Friday, Detroit’s medical staff diagnosed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will sideline him for the remainder of the year.
“Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior,” the Lions said in a statement. “He will forever be a Lion.”
The 29-year-old remains under contract with Detroit through the 2026 season. Head coach Dan Campbell had expressed excitement about a potential return, but the team has not addressed Ragnow’s status beyond 2025.
Although Ragnow had mentioned a hamstring issue during earlier discussions, the full extent of the injury only became clear during Friday’s final physical.
“Of course we’re disappointed because Frank is such a good dude, a great teammate, and a productive player,” Campbell said Friday via video call. “But he’s injured too, so you quickly move on and accept that he’s not playing.”
