It didn’t take long for the Detroit Lions to find a backup plan at center.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Lions have signed offensive lineman Trystan Colon to a one-year deal. Colon, 27, has played in 51 NFL games for two teams over five seasons, most recently for the Arizona Cardinals in 2024. He was undrafted out of Missouri in 2020.
Colon, formerly known as Colon-Castillo, played in all 17 games for the Cardinals in 2024, making a career-high seven starts. He has made four career starts at center, all with the Baltimore Ravens from 2020-22, and 11 starts at right guard from 2023-24 with the Cardinals.
The signing follows the retirement of longtime Lions center Frank Ragnow, who announced his retirement via Instagram on Monday. Ragnow, a first-round pick in 2018, was the Lions’ starting center from 2018-24, making 96 starts.
Among the options the Lions are considering to replace Ragnow is 2025 second-round draft pick Tate Ratledge, who has been taking snaps at center during organized team activities. Ratledge primarily served as a right guard in college for the Georgia Bulldogs, but has been praised by members of the Lions staff for his versatility.
The Lions could also turn to veteran Graham Glasgow at center. He started at left guard last season.
You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions signing Trystan Colon as insurance with Frank Ragnow retiring: Report
Reporting by Christian Romo, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
