Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. hasn’t had the easiest path to getting his NFL career off the ground. Injuries and bad luck both played a role early on, but now in his third year, he’s starting to stack together solid performances and move in the right direction.
That progress hasn’t changed the reality around him. Rakestraw knows he still has work to do if he wants to lock down a full-time starting spot on the Lions’ defense, and he’s not spending energy worrying about roster moves outside his control.
“I just gotta worry about myself,” Rakestraw said to Burchfield. “If they go get a corner, they go get a corner.
Whatever move they make is the best move for the team, so 100 percent behind whatever they want. Obviously we feel like we can do it here, but if they don’t feel like that, they’re the ones who gotta make the big decisions.
If we trade for a corner, we don’t know if one of us will be gone or one of us stays, so we just try to stay getting better and better every week, and try to give them a reason to not make that kind of move.”
Elsewhere in Lions content this week, the team’s latest version of a long-running tradition featured rookie defensive back Keith Abney II wearing a Texas Tech jersey after losing an, “agreement,” to fellow rookie Skyler Gill-Howard.
There was also an interesting post in The Feed from user UndaDawg examining the growing popularity of the, “Peanut punch.”
In Other News...
Lions Get A Huge Week 7 Boost As LaPorta Drama Builds
The Lions are getting healthier at a key point in the schedule, with Brian Branch and Cade Mays both expected back for Week 7 as Detroit gets ready for its first divisional test of the season against the Green Bay Packers. Branchs return, in particular, gives the defense another important piece as the Lions move into a stretch where every NFC North game will matter, and the timing lines up well with a matchup that should tell plenty about where this team stands.
At the same time, the conversation around Sam LaPorta has added an odd subplot to the week. The tight end expressed frustration about his contract situation on a podcast, then later tried to clear the air in a media scrum by emphasizing his commitment to the Lions. Its not the kind of distraction Detroit wanted heading into a rivalry game, but it has at least opened another thread to monitor as the Packers come into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Are Suddenly Tied To A Trade Deadline Gamble Worth Watching
The NFL trade deadline chatter around the Chargers has put the Lions in an interesting spot, thanks to a proposal from ESPNs Bill Barnwell that would send Los Angeles veterans Khalil Mack and Donte Jackson to Detroit. For a Lions team already built to contend now, the idea carries obvious appeal: adding experienced help without sacrificing premium draft capital, while the Chargers would use the move to open space for younger players and keep leaning into a long-term reset.
What makes the suggestion worth watching is the cost. Barnwells framework has Detroit parting with future draft picks in 2027, with the Chargers potentially taking on some of the remaining salary to make the deal more attractive. It is the kind of deadline gamble that can look modest on paper but become the sort of roster move that tells you how aggressively the Lions are willing to push at the right moment. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Face A Trade Deadline Temptation That Could Change Their Pass Rush
The Lions have no shortage of pass-rush momentum right now, but ESPNs Bill Barnwell floated a deadline idea that would add even more juice to a defense already leading the NFL in sacks. His proposal sends draft picks to the Chargers in exchange for edge rusher Khalil Mack and cornerback Donte Jackson, a move aimed at bolstering both the front and the back end for a team that has leaned heavily on Aidan Hutchinson and DJ Wonnum to set the tone up front.
Mack has surfaced as a trade candidate and has been tied to multiple teams, so Detroit would not be alone in weighing the fit. For the Lions, the appeal is obvious: a proven pass rusher who could deepen an already dangerous rotation and give the defense another weapon if the front office decides the right deadline swing is worth making. [Read more 🡒]