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Analyst proposes wild idea for Lions to address potential offensive line concern

Originally posted on Side Lion Report | By Brad Berreman | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 8:00 AM ET

For years the Detroit Lions have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL. Heading into this season there are questions, as all three interior starters will either be new or in different spots.

Second-year man Christian Mahogany and rookie Tate Ratledge are lined up to be at left and right guard respectively, with veteran Graham Glasgow between them. Frankly, and not to jinx anything, only an injury would change that equation.

During Thursday's joint practice against the Houston Texans, Glasgow left the field due to what was reported as a lower left leg injury. Jeff Risdon of Lions Wire reported Glasgow was able to leave the field, however slowly, without assistance. That's broadly a go od sign it's not a serious injury, and he'll have the benefit of time before the season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

But if Glasgow were to have to miss games, the Lions would have a problem. What seemed to be the initial plan for Ratledge to play center may be reinstated, which would then create a question mark at right guard. Second-year man Kingsley Eguakun could also step in at center if necessary.

Analyst offers outside the box idea for Lions to fix potential offensive line problem

On Thursday, Eazy of the Woodward Sports "Heavyweights" show backed up the idea Glasgow looks to be fine due to how he walked himself off the field, etc. That's the appropriate sentiment until anything more is revealed, and it stands unless the news takes a bad turn.

Co-hosting with Braylon Edwards on Woodward after Glasgow left Thursday's practice, Matt Shepard offered a bold idea for the Lions if the injury becomes a serious concern.

“I wouldn’t blame them one bit if they made that phone call.”

Matt Shepard believes the Detroit Lions should try and get center Frank Ragnow to suit back up this season https://t.co/2VWlfq8TJv pic.twitter.com/9s3dN1AlmD
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) August 21, 2025

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Of course Ragnow, the four-time Pro Bowl center in seven seasons for the Lions, retired in early June at the age of 29. The litany of injuries he suffered during his career made an early retirement pretty likely, but the news was very sudden and unexpected (publicly, at least).

By all accounts, namely his and his wife's Instagram accounts, Ragnow is setting comfortably into retirement. Even if the Lions did call him, if Glasgow's injury is revealed to be more serious than it seems to be, his desire to return for "one more year" would be the big and obvious question.

His pure desire to return doesn't take into account where Ragnow might be physically. Offensive lineman have to maintain weight at 300-plus pounds during their playing careers, and they routinely shed a lot of that extra weight when they can eat like a normal person.

So let's go ahead and say the Lions calling Ragnow is very unlikely, even if Glasgow were in line to miss time now or at any point during this season. Returning if he was asked to is even more unlikely. That said, Shepard's idea is so wild it almost makes sense in a "no stones left unturned" sense.