The Detroit Lions received a welcome surprise this week when it was announced that beloved center Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement. With the interior of the offensive line struggling to replace him, the four-time Pro Bowler and three-time second-team All-Pro selection should be a major upgrade for the Lions' playoff push.
While there should be plenty of excitement surrounding Ragnow’s return, there are some risks involved. Getting a player back that has already missed the majority of the season isn’t guaranteed to be a fix, and after Trystan Colon’s performance in a 31-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers, it’s clear that the Lions need the risk to be worth the reward when Ragnow returns.
Lions Desperate for Frank Ragnow’s Return After Trystan Colon’s Rough Outing
Colon had a rough afternoon as his 50.5 overall grade on Pro Football Focus was the second-worst among the Lions’ offensive linemen on Thursday, trailing only Dan Skipper (42.1). While he didn’t allow a pressure, Colon was brutal in the running game, posting a 46.5 grade on 30 run-blocking snaps, being a big reason why Detroit only averaged 4.0 yards per carry after averaging 11.9 in Week 12.
The biggest impact Colon had on the game may have come on the opening drive. With the Lions moving down the field, Colon recklessly barreled his way down the field and into the leg of star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown (h/t @NFLonFOX). The play took St. Brown out of the game for good and deprived the Lions of one of their top offensive weapons. Now, head coach Dan Campbell is saying he could miss "a week or two" if the Lions are "lucky."
With Kayode Awosika also struggling at left guard in place of Christian Mahogany, the Lions are somehow even more excited to see Ragnow back on the field. Even though he hasn't played a game since facing the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Round, Ragnow is clearly the best shot at solving those interior woes.
The quest to replace Ragnow has been a complicated task this season. Graham Glasgow has taken the most snaps at center, but his 59.3 overall grade per PFF and a knee injury have made his future uncertain. The Lions also tried Tate Ratledge during training camp, only to eventually decide to put him back at guard.
With Glasgow struggling before his injury and Ratledge playing guard again, the Lions don’t have a backup plan if Ragnow isn’t at his Pro Bowl form. This means Detroit needs Ragnow to be at his best down the stretch; otherwise, their offensive line struggles might be beyond solving this season.