Detroit Lions Mailbag: Chances Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker are back in 2026
Could the Lions get both Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker back in 2026?
The Detroit Lions got a nice win over the Dallas Cowboys, and they’re still very much in the playoff hunt. Now it’s time to answer some questions from Lions fans who are in a nice mood heading into a big game.
Could Rock Ya-Sin take over the CB2 job?
The Lions have already sort of done this to a point. Against the Cowboys, Amik Robertson played 80 snaps, and 42 of them were in the slot. They had Rock Ya-Sin play 41 snaps on the outside.
So they sort of split the duties on the outside. This is likely how they will continue to go about things for the rest of the season.
What should the expectations be for Damontae Kazee in Detroit?
I’m trying to find a player from the Lions’ past to compare Damontae Kazee to, and my mind goes to Tavon Wilson, a guy who could be a reliable hand off the bench.
Don’t expect him to be a starter or the player he was in 2018 when he led the league in interceptions. Expect him to be a guy who comes in and makes a key tackle or pass breakup here or there. That’s what they need right now — more bodies who can contribute as a sum in replacement for one.
Can Loren Strickland take Branch’s spot?
You should expect to see Loren Strickland get some shots at being elevated this year, but I don’t see a world where he comes in and starts or plays a big role right now.
This is the perfect time for veteran help, and while Strickland can be great on special teams, he has a way to go on defense before they can throw him out there as a starter.
What’s with the lack of pass rush from the Lions? Is it the big ends?
I know some Lions fans get upset when I say this, but the Lions’ defensive line is excellent. They just had a few bad games in a row. This team is still fifth in pressures and sacks right now. What we’re seeing is that Aidan Hutchinson is getting a ton of attention, and the guys who were supposed to win off that weren’t winning their opportunities. Then, you go into Thursday and really see the vision, especially with the big ends.
The Lions’ goal was to stop the run and make the Cowboys one-dimensional, and they did that. With that, they took the play action away and forced Dak Prescott to go into normal drop-backs. Then the other guys got their wins. Now, if that keeps happening, the pressure is off Hutchinson and spreads a little more evenly. He could get some one-on-ones, and we know he can frequently beat those.
With all that said, the Lions could still use some help opposite Hutchinson this offseason, and this year, they have to make sure they have more games like the Cowboys game and fewer like the Packers game.
Percentages for Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker playing next year
0 to 100, percentage of Frank Ragnow playing in 2026. Bonus—same for Taylor Decker.
— David Doesn't Like Winter (@deltajulietmike.bsky.social) December 8, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Hmm…Let’s see, I’ll put Ragnow at a nice 20%. It’s hard to see a world where a guy who wanted to come out of retirement and then got hurt right before the comeback decides to try to do the comeback again. But I don’t know.
As for Decker, I would put that at a healthy 65%. The guy loves football, and he got that point across in his interview with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. If the Lions go on a miracle run and win it all, he’s probably gone.
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