It's been a tough Thanksgiving week for Michigan sports fans, and it has only gotten worse on Saturday with the news that center Frank Ragnow has failed his physical and will not play in the 2025 NFL season.

Ragnow, the stalwart Lions center during their resurgence, retired at the end of 2024 but surprised the sports world when he announced that he was coming back to help his former franchise. The move would instantly upgrade an already falling-apart Lions offensive line, which has gone from a strength to a weakness throughout the campaign.

In his place, Graham Glasgow ranked in the bottom-third of centers, per Pro Football Focus. By the same metrics, Ragnow was a top-five center from 2022 to 2024, even holding the No. 1 position when the Lions returned to the postseason back in 2023. Not only was Glasgow a few levels below Ragnow's stature, but he is also injured, leading to the former center returning less of a warm welcome and more of a much-needed savior.

Following a loss to the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving and a drop to 7-5 on the year, after finishing 2024 with a 15-2 record, Ragnow's return was the glimmer of hope Detroit needed. That optimism lasted all but 48 hours, as it was reported today that the league-leading center is physically unfit to play football this year.

During the physical, Ragnow discovered he had a Grade 3 hamstring strain, ruling him out of any planned return.

With Ragnow and Glasgow out, Trystan Colon is the next man up at the center position on the depth chart. Playing only 96 snaps this season, PFF has him graded at 53.4, which is below Glasgow and would rank him near the bottom among all active players at his position in the NFL.

Detroit's next game is a monumental one, as they will play the emerging Dallas Cowboys, who are coming off back-to-back wins over last year's Super Bowl teams. A win would give them separation and solidify their playoff spot. A loss, though, would put them in a precarious position in a difficult NFC conference.

And unfortunately for them, with Ragnow ultimately sidelined, there doesn't seem to be a savior walking through those doors anytime soon.

This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Bad News Lions: Center Ragnow fails physical, stops retirement return

Reporting by Tyler Erzberger, Touchdown Wire / Touchdown Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect