ALLEN PARK -- Frank Ragnow’s decision to unretire accomplishes two major things for the Detroit Lions.
It gives them an elite player back on the roster for the playoff push, which is always good. And it directly addresses arguably their greatest weakness.
Last month, we wrote that the Lions should be prepared to give up more than they would like to address the interior offensive line. There was even a line, “Frank Ragnow isn’t walking through that door.”
Well, Ragnow is walking through that door again, and this represents the best-case scenario for whatever the Lions would have been forced to overpay for.
Pressure allowed by the interior offensive line has hampered Jared Goff and the team’s vertical attack. It has also put running back Jahmyr Gibbs into some dire situations on blitz pick-up duties, and led to some inconsistences on the ground, as well.
Look to the losses against the Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings, because there were all issues on the interior offensive line. The Vikings hit the cross-dog blitz, aiming at the guards and center, over and over again. There were miscommunication issues galore in Week 1. And Eagles defensive linemen Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis were problems in Philadelphia.
The Lions have run for fewer than 100 yards in four games this season, including in all four of their losses, go figure. Last season, with Ragnow at center and Graham Glasgow at left guard, they had only one game with less than 100 rushing yards.
Ragnow was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro across the last two seasons. Pro Football Focus ranked him third among centers in 2024, first in 2023 and fifth in 2022, all while battling through knee, back and toe injuries galore.
He’s a force to be reckoned with on the ground and is one of the most dependable interior pass-blockers of this generation. Add Ragnow back at center, and it’s a scary thought to what Gibbs, Goff and Co. are going to be able to unlock.
Even with the offensive line slipping, Gibbs averages 6.1 yards per carry and has 582 scrimmage yards in his last three games. All of those yards have come while the Lions replaced the injured Christian Mahogany at left guard with Kayode Awosika.
Ragnow’s return likely leads to Glasgow shifting back to left guard when he’s healthy. Glasgow played 1,000-plus snaps at left guard last season and is no stranger to that position or playing next to Ragnow. The one aspect to watch now is Glasgow’s status, as he’s been ruled out for Thanksgiving due to a knee injury, which could impact those thoughts.
Tate Ratledge should stick at right guard, as his rookie bumps have been cleaned up. Ratledge and Penei Sewell have been monsters on the duo rush attempts for Gibbs, and seem to be hitting their stride as the second-rounder learns on the fly.
PFF ranks Detroit’s offensive line as the 23rd pass-blocking unit and third on the ground. Ragnow boosts both, giving the Lions the mighty duo of Penei Sewell and himself back in the trenches.
The analytics site grades Glasgow 30th among centers with enough snaps. He was 57th among guards in 2024. This year, Ratledge slots 28th, Mahogany 31st and Awosika 45th among guards.
Also, it’s easy to imagine what Ragnow’s return could do for Goff and the passing attack. Goff hasn’t been able to throw downfield much at all this year. In fact, the Lions rank last with only 6.8% of their pass attempts traveling more than 20 yards this season. It’s the fourth-lowest rate in a season over the last decade, per TruMedia.
Goff is getting only 2.73 seconds to throw per dropback, the 13th-worst mark among all quarterbacks. The Lions quarterback has been sacked 23 times in 11 games, with a chance to set his career high in a season in that department, too.
If Goff can get more time, with Ragnow’s celebrated ability in study sessions and identifying blitzes and setting the line, then watch for that number to grow. And when that number grows, expect more chances for the electric Jameson Williams.
The playmaking wide receiver has had some bright moments. But Williams hasn’t hit on the patented deep balls, with that part of the offense simply not existing this season. Williams has two games without a single catch and has been forced to prove his growing route tree more than expected.
Reports indicate Ragnow could return for next Thursday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. It sounds more realistic to see him back for the game against the Los Angeles Rams in two weeks, though.
If it’s Dallas, Ragnow will be greeted by the interior defensive line of Quinnen Williams and familiar foe, Kenny Clark. The Cowboys have won two straight, with Williams and Clark powering their defense.
Los Angeles is the hottest team in the league right now. Matthew Stafford looks like the MVP favorite, but the Rams are so much more than an offense-first team. They rank eighth against the run and sixth against the pass, sporting the fourth-best third-down defense and second in the red zone.
Even if Ragnow needs a couple of weeks to get ready for game action, he fills the team’s most glaring outside weakness and gives them a ton of options down the stretch for the playoff push.
Ragnow helps unlock Gibbs and the rushing attack more, while it gives Goff his trusted center back where he belongs. If Goff gets more time and Gibbs keeps it rolling, then watch out for this offense. This is the type of shocking move that can ignite a roster, as Ragnow is one of the NFL’s best centers of his generation and an all-important leader here.
The multi-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro has battled through countless injuries that forced him into retirement at just 29 years old. But he’s running it back one more time, proving what doesn’t need to be proved concerning what these Lions mean to him.