The Detroit Lions were hoping for a clean start to training camp, but Day One delivered an unsettling blow. Promising second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. suffered a chest injury during Sunday’s practice and was forced to exit early, casting immediate doubt over his availability moving forward.
Rakestraw, who was taken in the second round of the 2024 draft and is expected to be a key rotational piece in the Lions’ revamped secondary, went down during an 11-on-11 drill. Trainers quickly tended to him as he grabbed at his chest area, and he was eventually helped off the field without returning.
This isn’t the first health setback for Rakestraw, who missed much of his rookie campaign battling a hamstring issue. Just as he looked primed to compete for more snaps behind starters Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed, another injury puts his role in jeopardy.
Veteran Rock Ya-Sin took over Rakestraw’s reps after the injury, and with camp just getting started, the Lions may now have to adjust their cornerback rotation plans again. Head coach Dan Campbell is expected to provide more details on Rakestraw’s condition in the coming days.
For a team already dealing with multiple players on the PUP list, this was the kind of early camp drama Detroit didn’t need.
“Lions’ Young Corner Crumbles on Day One — Ennis Rakestraw Suffers Chest Injury in Early Camp Scare”
