The Detroit Lions enjoyed the best regular season in franchise history in 2024, losing just two games en route to a second consecutive NFC North division title. Moreover, they laid claim to the No. 1 seed in the conference heading into the playoffs.
However, it all came undone in the postseason as they lost to the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round, ending their postseason well short of the Super Bowl. Detroit wants to avoid a repeat of this fate, and may need to fix an important part of their roster if they want to do so, according to Calvin Johnson.
Lions Legend Calvin Johnson Names Potential Concern For 2025
Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson recently spoke with Kay Adams on the “Up & Adams Show”. Johnson, who spent his entire career in the Motor City, discussed the Lions at length and highlighted a particular aspect of the team that could become a concern during the 2025 NFL season.
“If I was going to be concerned about anything, it would be the O-Line. The way our offense moves the ball…if I was concerned, I’m not truly concerned, but if there was a concern, it would be the offensive line,” Johnson told Adams on Thursday afternoon.
“They gots to keep Jared (Goff) up for us to have success and for him to distribute the ball to our playmakers. If we can put points up, even if the other team is scoring, we got a chance to win still because we got those guys up. We gotta pick him up, we gotta keep him on his feet. He can’t get hit early and often,” the Detroit legend continued.
“I’m not truly concerned, but if there was a concern…” 👀
Lions legend Calvin Johnson shares the only thing on his mind heading into the season.@heykayadams | @calvinjohnsonjr pic.twitter.com/4rU98dTkjV
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) June 12, 2025
The offensive line could have brought up some concerns even before training camp. However, the position was dealt a major blow as OTAs got underway. Longtime center Frank Ragnow retired after seven seasons in the league.
Ragnow emerged as one of the best centers in the game in Detroit. However, a long line of injuries caught up with him. The former first-round pick always pushed through them when he could. In the end, though, he decided he had nothing left to give.
The Lions prepared for this possibility, however. They drafted guard Tate Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In the sixth round, Detroit traded up to select Miles Fraizer out of LSU. Losing Ragnow hurts, but Detroit is moving forward as best they can.
“Frank’s been an unbelievable teammate, football player, and man in the community. He’s done it all,” head coach Dan Campbell said of Ragnow’s retirement, via team beat reporter Tim Twentyman. “He will be sorely missed.”
“But this train goes on. Train rolls on and it’s the next man up. We will be ready to go when camp hits. We have plenty of versatility up there. We like the guys that we drafted. We like our free agents that we brought in.”
