The Lions walked into training camp with plenty unsettled in the secondary, and the biggest question at corner remains the same one they opened camp with: who lines up opposite DJ Reed?
It’s still early, and Detroit only got into pads on Monday, but a few names have already started to separate themselves in the competition. Head coach Dan Campbell pointed to Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and Nick Whiteside as the players standing out so far.
Ya-Sin and Rakestraw fit the expected billing. Whiteside, though, is the surprise.
Campbell said Whiteside has been making his presence felt every day through the first four practices, and he didn’t sound like someone just tossing out polite camp praise.
"Whiteside has made plays everyday - special teams and on defense. Everyday.
There’s not been a day yet, we’ve had four practices, where he has not made plays. So, this is about to get interesting.
It’s going to be really interesting."
That kind of run is turning heads because Whiteside’s path to this point has already been a long one. The Michigan native and Saginaw Valley State product entered the league in 2023 as an undrafted player, spent a brief time with the Washington Commanders, then played a year in the UFL with the St.
Louis Battlehawks. Detroit brought him back into the NFL in July 2025.
Whiteside’s first Lions training camp last year ended with him being waived, then re-signed to the practice squad before he eventually worked his way onto the active roster. He appeared in nine games and finished with five tackles and three pass deflections.
Now he’s back in camp and, by Campbell’s account, playing at a different level. The Lions still have work to do in the cornerback room, but if Whiteside keeps stacking plays on defense and special teams, he’ll give himself a real shot to stick on the regular season roster.
In Other News...
Lions Camp Competition Just Took A Telling Turn At Tight End
The tight end group in Lions camp got a little thinner before the first padded practice even arrived, and Detroit responded by bringing in another veteran option. Nick Muse, who spent the past four seasons in the NFL and most recently was with the Minnesota Vikings, joined the roster as the team continued sorting through its depth at the position.
The move came after undrafted tight end Miles Kitselman went down with an injury that is expected to keep him out for a while, prompting a corresponding roster adjustment. To make room, the Lions released wide receiver Tarik Black, a small but telling shift as camp competition starts to sharpen and the team looks for a workable mix behind its top tight ends. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie Tyleik Williams Draws Backlash Over Viral Off-Field Clip
A video of rookie defensive tackle Tyleik Williams has been making the rounds on social media, and it has created an unwelcome side conversation around the Lions as they head into the heart of the offseason. Williams, the No. 28 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, spent much of his first year working as a rotational interior lineman, staying on the field for all 17 games while finishing with 18 tackles and a sack.
The clip has drawn plenty of reaction because of the way it shows Williams playfully slapping his girlfriend, putting the rookie in an off-field spotlight he did not need after a season in which his late-year conditioning issues already affected his snap count and production. For a Detroit team that drafted him to help fortify the middle of the defense, the bigger question now is how the organization handles the latest attention around a young player still trying to establish himself. [Read more 🡒]