​Ranking at number 7 on the Lions’ Top 10 Injury News of 2025 is a player who didn’t play a single snap all season, yet managed to yank the emotional strings of Lions fans. The excerpt from Detroit Lions Top 10 Injury News of the 2025 Season centers on Frank Ragnow and his hamstring.
The piece recalls the surprise retirement of Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow in June 2025, which left the offensive line weakened. Then, in a dramatic turn, Ragnow announced his unretirement in late November to try to save the Lions’ season. An unretirement announcement was posted on November 26, 2025, by the Lions’ official account, followed shortly by further coverage and speculation about what happened next. Just three days after announcing his return, the team released a statement on November 29, 2025, noting a grade 3 hamstring strain discovered during a routine physical—an injury severe enough to imply a complete tear or avulsion. The combination of the retirement, unretirement, and sudden injury fueled a wave of questions and conspiracy theories about timing, injury onset, and possible deeper rifts within the organization, along with chatter about potential financial motives or even fantastical explanations.
In June 2026, Ragnow finally spoke about the sequence of events, saying he was trying to will himself to play and that he remained in good shape; he explained that he was hurt a day or two before he reported to the team. His account aligns with a simple, parsimonious explanation: he likely tore his hamstring right before showing up for the Lions. Whether that’s the full story or there is more to uncover remains to be seen. Regardless of the cause, the failed comeback meant no rescue for the Lions, who went on to drop three of their last five and miss the playoffs.
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