The Detroit Lions have announced that second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw will be placed on injured reserve after undergoing shoulder surgery, effectively ending his 2025 season. This marks a challenging moment for the 23-year-old athlete, who has struggled with injuries throughout his early career, managing only eight game appearances and 46 defensive snaps over two seasons.
Despite this setback, Lions coach Dan Campbell reminds fans that while injuries are unfortunate for the player, they often create opportunities for others on the roster. The team’s secondary is poised for changes, especially with players like Rock Ya-Sin being trained at safety and Amik Robertson being capable of playing both nickel and outside cornerback.
The Lions currently have a solid core of defensive backs, including D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Brian Branch, among others. With a historical tendency to retain 11 defensive backs on their roster, the team now has room to explore various lineup combinations to fill the gap left by Rakestraw.
The situation also raises questions about whether young talents like Loren Strickland, Morice Norris, or rookie Ian Kennelly might get a chance to showcase their abilities now. Alternatively, one of the newly recruited cornerbacks may step up, affecting the team’s final 53-man roster.
In this week’s Midweek Mailbag podcast, Erik Schlitt and a co-host delved into these changes, discussing not only Rakestraw’s injury but also broader topics such as the offense’s slow start, comparisons of players, and the progress of several individuals during training camp.
This challenge presents a moment of potential growth for the Lions’ defense, and there is hope that emerging players will seize their chance to shine in the absence of Rakestraw. The team’s adaptability could turn this setback into a valuable opportunity for newly appointed players in the secondary.