Frank Ragnow fails physical, won't rejoin Detroit Lions; Campbell said team was aware of potential injury, just not the severity

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Allen Park — Less than a week after stunning the NFL by agreeing to come out of retirement to rejoin the Detroit Lions, an injury revealed during a routine medical examination has reversed Frank Ragnow’s plans.

The team issued a statement on the situation Saturday morning.

“Frank Ragnow reported to our facility yesterday and went through the normal process of meetings,” the statement started. “Unfortunately, during the routine meeting with our medical team, Frank failed his physical. The medical exam revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will keep him from participating for the remainder of the regular season. For that reason, Frank will not be rejoining the Lions.

“Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior. He will forever be a Lion,” the statement concluded.

The tone suggests a finality to not just Ragnow’s season, but also hopes of a comeback next year. Regardless, Lions coach Dan Campbell said 2026 wasn’t something that was discussed.

“It was just once we realized the severity of it — he did — then that’s just where it went,” Campbell said. “So nothing was discussed past the news that you guys just got.”

In terms of whether the Lions had any inclination of the injury before the medical exam, Campbell said the team was aware Ragnow was dealing with hamstring soreness, something he disclosed in conversations with the team, but no one anticipated the extent of the injury.

“We knew there was something in there,” Campbell said. He had disclosed that, that he had a little bit of something in there. We just didn’t know the severity of it until we had the final physical and all the tests that were run, which we do with anybody we bring in.”

The news is obviously a blow, capping an emotional rollercoaster following the news of Ragnow’s return on Wednesday. But, the 7-5 Lions, who fell further out of the playoff picture and division race this week, can’t linger on this fresh disappointment.

“Look, of course we’re disappointed, just because Frank’s such a good dude and a great teammate and he’s a productive player,” Campbell said. “But at the same time, he’s injured, too. So you quickly move off of that and know what it is, and you know he’s not playing, and it’s all good, man. We adjust, we move on, and we’re onto Dallas now.”

With Ragnow off the table, the Lions will continue to lean on the alternatives they have all season. Starter Graham Glasgow was sidelined by a knee injury on Thanksgiving, and Campbell didn’t have much to offer in terms of an update.

“I haven’t heard any news lately on Graham,” Campbell said. “I know he feels better. I do know that.”

Glasgow was replaced in the lineup by Trystan Colon, making his first start at center since 2021. Campbell offered a mostly positive review of the spot performance.

“There was a little up and down, but, man, I thought he brought a lot of energy,” Campbell said. “I thought, you know, most of his IDs were on point, and I thought he did some good things. I think the more he plays, the better he would get, too.”