Lions Injury Scare Feels Different Now But One Concern Remains

While the Detroit Lions faced injury scares in their preseason opener, Coach Dan Campbell offers a reassuring update on key player Ennis Rakestraw's condition.

The Detroit Lions left their preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals with a few injury scares, but the early read from Dan Campbell is mostly encouraging.

The best news came on Ennis Rakestraw. The cornerback left after taking some friendly fire from linebacker Devin White early in the second quarter, then later went down on a low tackle and didn’t initially get back up.

Rakestraw walked off under his own power, went to the medical tent, then headed to the locker room and did not return. Still, Campbell said the X-ray came back clean and suggested the issue may be no more than an arm contusion.

“It’s not major. It ended up being-it’s not a head shot-we just think he got a little contusion in the arm,” Campbell said. “It kinda made it numb, so I think he’ll be alright.”

Mekhi Wingo also exited in the second quarter and didn’t come back, though Campbell didn’t sound overly concerned there either. The third-year defensive tackle may need to go through concussion protocol after what Campbell described as a minor blow.

“He just got a little bit of a-got his bell rung a little bit,” Campbell said. “So he could be (in) concussion protocol-but I don’t feel like any of those (injuries) are serious.”

The one situation that still carries some uncertainty is Loren Strickland. The Lions safety was limping while chasing down a receiver in the second half, and Campbell said imaging is still needed before anyone knows more.

“I think all of those guys are okay. Strickland, I think, right now is the one that’s going to be-don’t know. We’ve got to get an image on that,” Campbell said.

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