Tate

Ratledge

Ragnow retired back in June 2025. Back in 2021, the Lions made Ragnow the NFL’s highest-paid center in the league when they signed him to a multi-year contract extension, which ran through 2026. The Lions still own the rights to Ragnow’s contract, so a return from retirement, back onto the Lions’ roster, should be fairly simple. His expected return comes at a great time. Lions LT Taylor Decker (shoulder), RT Penei Sewell (ankle) and RG Tate Ratledge (knee) are questionable to play in Week 13 against the Packers and C Graham Glasgow (knee) has been ruled out. It is unclear how quickly Ragnow can resume playing, but the banged-up unit needs reinforcements.

The Lions’ offensive line is ailing. LT Taylor Decker (shoulder/rest), C Graham Glasgow (knee) and RG Tate Ratledge (knee) are also questionable to play. The Giants’ defensive line will be without OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (shoulder), which helps even the odds. Hopefully, the Lions’ unit emerges from the game without any setbacks.

This was a bizarre sequence. Glasgow was leg-whipped by Lions rookie OG Tate Ratledge on a block five yards downfield. Ratledge hit the ground shortly after Glasgow did, somersaulting his way over a defender. As Ratledge completed the motion, one of his heels clattered down onto Glasgow’s calf, which the broadcast initially identified as the injured spot. The starter remained down after the play and was eventually helped off by trainers, at which point backup C Trystan Colon replaced him. Glasgow appeared to shake off the injury quickly and could be seen jawing with trainers, asking to be let back in on the ensuing plays. The training staff opted to keep Glasgow off the field, ostensibly for an in-depth evaluation at halftime, with just minutes remaining in the second quarter. He was later announced as questionable to return with a back injury. Glasgow talked to reporters in the locker room after the game, generally that’s a good sign for the player being available the following week.

Ratledge could soon be a household name. The Lions’ interior offensive line experienced turnover this offseason, with C Frank Ragnow retiring and RG Kevin Zeitler now a Tennessee Titan. Ratledge will compete for one of the two vacant starting roles in his first season with the team, and he has to be regarded as a favorite to start at this point.

Ratledge (6’6/308) is a three-year starter who earned All-America and First Team All-SEC recognition in each of his last two campaigns. A virtuoso pass protector, Ratledge earned 87th percentile pass block grades with just two sacks allowed and a 99.1% block efficiency rate as a starter. He dazzled at the Combine, running a 4.97s 40-yard dash (98th%), 7.38s 3-cone (98th%) and a pair of 95th percentile jumping marks for a near perfect 9.96 Relative Athletic Score. A seasoned all-around interior blocker, Ratledge doesn’t have long arms but knows where to strike with his hands and keeps his chest clean when engaging. He’s not especially rangy, but Ratledge fires out of his stance and works hard to sustain blocks. His high football IQ and ideal measurables bode well for Ratledge’s ability to contribute right away.

The environment at Sanford Stadium was electric Saturday night, with commits and recruits who have yet to pick a school all speaking highly of their visits. Ratledge (6'6/311), who made his pledge to Georgia in May, was one of many who took unofficial visits over the weekend. And his comments could lead one to believe that, if allowed, he would have suited up for the Bulldogs immediately. “The environment was amazing,” Ratledge told 247Sports. “It made me want to be playing and more ready to get there. My favorite part was probably talking to everyone, all the commits and hopefully future commits.”

“From an upside standpoint, it’s not hard to envision Ratledge as the best of the bunch because in addition to all the physical traits, he appears to check the box in a big way on the demeanor side of things too,” Simmons wrote in his analysis. Ratledge (6'6/311) was one of the top performers at The Opening Finals, earning a spot on Simmons’ “Dream Team.” Given how the Georgia commit has performed on the camp circuit, it would not be a surprise if he were to get that elusive fifth star the next time the major recruiting cites update their player rankings.

Rivals analyst Chad Simmons wrote near the end of May that he was pushing for Ratledge to gain a fifth star. Looks like he got his way on this one. Prior to this week’s rankings release, the 6-foot-5, 295-pounder had slotted as the outlet’s No. 30 overall prospect for the 2020 cycle. They have bumped him up to No. 13 in their fresh set. A hard-nosed competitor, Ratledge pledged to Georgia back in mid-May.

“When you look at his size, athleticism, feet, strength, attitude, dominance, and upside, [it] is hard to find much to concern me,” Simmons writes of the 6-foot-5, 295-pound Ratledge, who committed to the Bulldogs earlier this month. The analyst refers to the standout tackle as a “punisher [who] plays with an edge play after play.” Rivals currently ranks Ratledge as the No. 30 overall prospect in the 2020 class. We’ll check back in with his standing when the outlet releases its next rankings set.

Georgia winning out over Tennessee for Ratledge, here. The Bulldogs have been patiently building their case with the 6-foot-5, 295-pounder for two years, now, with that patience finally paying off on Monday morning. Rivals analyst Chad Simmons refers to the Rome, Georgia, native as “athletic, light on his feet and [having an] edge to him between the lines.” Simmons’ outlet ranks Ratledge as the No. 30 overall prospect in the 2020 class.