Nick Whiteside’s rise has given the Detroit Lions something they badly need right now: a little breathing room.
That matters more after the latest update on cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who left Thursday’s practice early with what Fox 2 Detroit’s Dan Miller reported on X was an ankle injury that is “Not expected to be serious.” Miller also said Rakestraw’s status for the Lions’ second preseason game against the Washington Commanders is “TBD.”
For a cornerback group already operating with very little margin, even a minor scare gets attention fast. Rakestraw’s situation comes on the heels of a bounce-back week for the young defensive back, after a rough preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals that ended with him leaving that game with a contusion.
The bigger picture is pretty clear: the Lions do not have much room to absorb another hit in the cornerback room. That reality only becomes more obvious after the release of Terrion Arnold. A trade for Pittsburgh Steelers corner Joey Porter Jr. is not something to count on amid his contract negotiation, so Detroit is more likely to work with what it has or sift through what remains in free agency.
And that may be just fine, because Whiteside has been one of the offseason’s best developments for this defense.
Whiteside was on the outside looking in just a year ago, one of Detroit’s final roster cuts after spending a season in the UFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks. The Michigan native and former Saginaw Valley State Cardinal came back to the Lions in early October, then made his main roster debut only ten days later.
He went on to appear in nine games for Detroit in 2025, finishing with five tackles and three passes defended. All three of those pass breakups came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then-MVP candidate Baker Mayfield. In 51 snaps, Whiteside earned an 83.0 grade from Pro Football Focus while holding his own in what was described as the no-name “Legion of Whom.”
That label doesn’t fit anymore.
Whiteside has kept showing up in camp, making plays on defense and on special teams. His work carried into the loss to the Bengals, where PFF ranked him as Detroit’s fifth-best defender with a 75.4 grade after he posted one tackle and one pass deflection.
At this point, it feels like a lock that Whiteside belongs on the 53-man roster. The real question is whether he’s done enough to take the CB2 job from Rock Ya-Sin.
That isn’t a knock on Ya-Sin, who has also had a strong offseason. It’s just a sign of how much Whiteside has pushed himself into the conversation.
Ya-Sin remains listed as CB2 on the latest official depth chart, but Rakestraw’s injury scare is another reminder of how fast the picture can shift. For now, Whiteside looks like a dependable safety net for the Lions if Ya-Sin or D.J. Reed miss time.
And if Whiteside has to step in, don’t assume he’s handing the job back.
In Other News...
Lions Could Raid Ben Johnsons Bears For Help After Cutdowns
As the roster churn settles after cutdowns, the Lions could be watching Chicago a little more closely than usual. The Bears have a few players who may draw interest around the division, and Detroit is in the kind of spot where depth pieces, special teams help and insurance at more than one position can matter just as much as splashier additions.
Kyler Gordon is the most intriguing name in the group because of his versatility, while Roschon Johnson could appeal as a physical back with room to fit into a rotation. Jamree Kromah is more of a developmental flier, but those are the kinds of low-cost bets teams often make in late August. Nothing is guaranteed, and it all depends on how Chicago sorts out its final roster, but Detroit has enough familiarity with Ben Johnsons new home to keep an eye on what shakes loose. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Center Battle Just Got More Unsettling Before Week 1
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Dan Campbell acknowledged the situation, and now the competition appears to be narrowed to Juice Scruggs, Seth McLaughlin and Tate Ratledge. For a team that values continuity up front, every practice rep at center carries extra weight, and injuries only make the evaluation more complicated. The Lions still have options, but the path to a dependable answer in the middle looks a little less straightforward than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Rookie DT Is Flashing But One Issue Still Threatens His Role
Skyler Gill-Howard made a strong impression in the Lions preseason win over Washington, flashing the kind of disruptive presence that can turn a rookie into a quick favorite around camp. The defensive tackle earned the highest PFF grade among Detroit defenders who played at least 20 snaps, and his best moment came on a tackle for loss against the Commanders. Dan Campbell singled out his relentlessness and effort, the kind of traits that tend to travel well from August into the regular season.
Gill-Howard has already shown enough juice to make the conversation interesting, especially as a situational pass rusher with a path toward early snaps. But he also knows there is still work to do as he adjusts to the NFL, and he pointed specifically to run defense as an area he needs to sharpen. For a young lineman trying to carve out a role on Detroits front, that part of the evaluation still matters, because the flashes are real but the margin for error at defensive tackle is never very wide. [Read more 🡒]