When things go bad for the Detroit Lions, coach Dan Campbell is quick to tell his team they're the only ones that can dig themselves out of the rut they're in.
And in that regard, center Frank Ragnow's decision not to return this season after he was diagnosed with a serious hamstring injury three days after coming out of retirement felt "poetic" to the man he seemed set to replace.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"It’s one of those things that coach tells us the only people that can really help you out of the situation you’re in or the only people that can really make your situation better are in the building," Lions center Graham Glasgow told the Free Press on Sunday, Nov. 30. "And it’s almost like a poetic justice to that, what he always says, that this just so happens to be the case."
Center Frank Ragnow is interviewed by the media during Detroit Lions training camp at the Lions practice facility in Allen Park on Monday, July 29, 2024.INJURY UPDATE: Detroit Lions TE gets opinions on trachea
The Lions will ride with the offensive line that got them to 7-5 for the final five weeks of the season after Ragnow ended his comeback – at least for now – when he was diagnosed with a Grade 3 hamstring strain during a physical last week.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThey likely need to win four of their final five games to make the playoffs.
A four-time Pro Bowler, Ragnow retired abruptly in June at the age of 29 after seven injury-riddled seasons, then returned briefly to the team last week.
Glasgow said he was caught off guard by Ragnow's initial decision to resume playing and just as shocked to hear Ragnow's comeback was over.
He said he talked briefly with offensive line coach Hank Fraley about changing positions once Ragnow was ready to return and assumed he'd move from center back to left guard once Ragnow was ready to play following a ramp-up period.
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) talks to center Graham Glasgow (60) before a play against Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, November 2, 2025.The Lions moved Glasgow from right guard to center in training camp to replace Ragnow. Glasgow played left guard last season. Christian Mahogany, who started the first eight games of the season at left guard, is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a broken bone in his leg.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement"I was happy that he was going to come back," Glasgow said. "I mean, I like Frank, I love Frank. He’s one of my good buddies. But I was really surprised that he decided he was going to come back and then he can’t. So I mean it would have been – I mean, it’s almost hard to say. It’s just, I wouldn’t say that I got too high emotionally or too low, either way."
Lions quarterback Jared Goff called Ragnow "a special dude," but said players were mostly immune to the highs and lows of his decision.
"Not as much of a roller coaster as maybe it seemed outside," Goff said. "I was excited to get him back there for a couple of days and then obviously it fell through with the physical stuff. But he’s doing well, I’m happy, he’s happy and in a good place."
Briefly
The Lions made a few minor roster moves Sunday, signing tight end Giovanni Ricci and running back Jabari Small to their practice squad and releasing cornerback Tre Flowers from practice squad. Small spent part of training camp with the Lions.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions aim for OL help within after nixed Frank Ragnow comeback
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