The Lions may have found an answer hiding in plain sight.
After two seasons of stop-and-start availability, Ennis Rakestraw finally got a real shot on Sunday against the New York Jets, and he made it count. In 23 snaps in a rotational role, he recorded a pass breakup and gave up just one completion on four targets. Head coach Dan Campbell came away impressed and suggested more chances could be coming.
That matters in Detroit, where cornerback has been a shaky spot for a while. The Lions released Terrion Arnold earlier in the offseason during an ongoing legal situation, but that move didn’t immediately open the door for Rakestraw. He was a healthy scratch in the first two games, a frustrating continuation of a career that has barely gotten off the ground.
Since Detroit drafted him in the second round in 2024, Rakestraw has played in only nine regular season games. He was limited to eight games as a rookie, then missed all of the 2025 season after an injury in training camp. Sunday was his first real reminder of why the Lions invested in him in the first place.
Before the Jets game, Detroit had been leaning on veteran Rock Ya-Sin opposite D.J. Reed.
But both players had struggled through the first two weeks, and the Lions made a change by starting Roger McCreary alongside Reed for that matchup. Rakestraw, who had been inactive the first two games, stayed active this time and ended up with meaningful work.
For a player who has spent so much of his early NFL career on the sideline, simply getting to stack snaps is a step forward. The Lions have been missing that kind of game experience from him, and every rep now helps speed up a development process that has been delayed by injuries.
The next test is consistency. One good outing is a start, but Rakestraw has to put another one together if he wants to build trust with the coaching staff and his teammates. Staying on the field will be just as important as what he does once he gets there.
And with plenty of chatter around Detroit potentially making a major trade at cornerback - including reports and discussion around Steelers cornerback Joey Porter Jr. - Rakestraw’s emergence would be a huge boost. If he becomes a real starting option, that changes the conversation for the Lions and their push to get back to the postseason in 2026.
In Other News...
Lions Suddenly Have A Devin White Problem They Didnt Expect
The Lions spent Week 3 reshuffling the middle of their defense, and Trevor Nowaske ended up with a meaningful role while Devin White watched as a healthy scratch. It was the latest reminder that Detroits linebacker spot has become one of the more fluid parts of the roster, with Dan Campbell saying the group used against the Jets could be the one the team sticks with for now.
Around Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes, the Lions are treating the position as week-to-week business, which makes the depth chart a little less settled than it looked when the season began. For White, that means the path back onto the field is anything but guaranteed, and for Detroit it means the linebacker rotation remains open to change even if the current setup holds for another game. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Dobbs Just Gave The Lions Another Viral Sideline Moment
During a recent Lions game, Josh Dobbs turned a small sideline issue into the kind of moment Detroit fans have come to expect from him. The backup quarterback noticed a coachs communication headset was getting in the way and quickly adjusted it, a sharp little fix that caught the attention of starting quarterback Jared Goff and added another clip-worthy snapshot to the Lions season.
Dobbs has built a reputation for being more than just a journeyman QB, and this was another reminder of why his nickname, The Passtronaut, fits so well. A University of Tennessee graduate with a 4.0 GPA in aerospace engineering and a background working with NASA, he has appeared in 27 NFL games across multiple teams, throwing for 3,346 yards with 17 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. For the Lions, moments like this only reinforce how much value he can bring beyond the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Week 4 Availability Concern In Key Spots
The Lions got back on the field this week with a short injury watch developing in a few important places as they prepare for Carolina. Offensive guard Ben Bartch and defensive end DJ Wonnum did not take part in the media-observed portion of practice, while cornerback D.J. Reed was limited as he works through a rib injury. It is the kind of early-week setup that can force a coaching staff to keep a close eye on both fronts, especially with roles still settling in.
Dan Campbell said Wonnum has shown steady development, which makes his status worth tracking as the week goes on. Bartchs situation is also one the team has been dealing with for a while, and Detroit will need more clarity before it can feel comfortable about the available depth in the trenches and in the secondary. The Lions have already played enough football to know availability can shape the plan in a hurry, and this week is trending toward another one of those tests. [Read more 🡒]