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Eric Woodyard
DETROIT — Four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow has failed his physical and will not play for the Detroit Lions this season, the team announced.
Ragnow was planning to come out of retirement, but after reporting to the facility Friday to meet with the medical team for normal protocols, he failed to meet the requirement.
Detroit’s medical team revealed that Ragnow had a Grade 3 hamstring strain that would keep him from playing, the team said.
«Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior,» the team said in a statement. «He will forever be a Lion.»
Ragnow, 29, announced his retirement in June after seven NFL seasons in which he battled through multiple injuries.
The Lions still hold Ragnow’s contractual rights for two seasons — this year and next — and coach Dan Campbell was initially «fired up» about the possibility of him returning.
«He wants to play, he wants to be a part of it, he misses the game, he misses his teammates. And so, we’re really fired up,» Campbell said after Thursday’s 31-24 loss to Green Bay. «He’s a good football player, he brings a good football player, a lot of production back to that O-line and the game itself. But he’s also a great teammate.
«He was one of our captains, so he brings a lot to our team.»
