The Detroit Lions will likely enter the 2026 offseason looking for solutions for an offensive line that took a significant step back this season. If you’re hoping retired All-Pro center Frank Ragnow is one of those solutions, Lions quarterback Jared Goff has got some bad news for you.
Talking with 97.1 The Ticket on Tuesday afternoon, Goff suggested Ragnow isn’t looking to try and unretire a second time.
“No, I don’t think that’s in the cards at all,” Goff said. “Of course I’ll talk to Frank, I just don’t think his interest level (in returning) is there.”
Ragnow, who had four Pro Bowl seasons in his nine years with Detroit, retired somewhat suddenly in June, stating a desire to be with family and his battles with injuries as primary reasons for ending his football career at age 29.
But after months of sitting on the sideline, Ragnow was prepared to unretire in November and reported to the Lions’ facility to rejoin the roster. Unfortunately, during his standard physical, medical tests revealed a grade three hamstring tear that ended his season before it even started. He was quickly placed back on the retired/reserve list and never even made a media appearance during his brief return. In fact, Ragnow has not had a single media session since announcing his retirement in June over social media.
So what will the Lions do at center moving forward? On Monday, Lions coach Dan Campbell noted that 2025 second-round pick Tate Ratledge, who has started every game this season at right guard, is still in play to move to center after he took some reps there during OTAs and the beginning of training camp.
“We felt like he could be a center and that’s still not off the table,” Campbell said. “We watched him at guard, he played right guard in college. He’s a good athlete, he’s a big man, he can move. So, we’ll find out.”
This year’s center, veteran Graham Glasgow, remains under contract for 2026, but Detroit will have to decide if his play warrants the significant raise in his contract ($8.44 million cap hit next year). The Lions have also gotten a recent look at practice squad center Kingsley Eguakun—who has started for Glasgow the last two weeks. They also have Trystan Colon and Michael Niese, who are both capable of playing the position.
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