If not for a sports hernia that prematurely ended his final season at Missouri and a groin injury that cut short his NFL Combine performance, Ennis Rakestraw might have been a first-round pick in last year’s draft. Instead, he slipped to the second round, where the Detroit Lions selected him at No. 61 as part of their strategy to strengthen the cornerback position.
Unfortunately, injuries continued to follow Rakestraw into his rookie season. An ankle injury during training camp set him back early, and a hamstring issue suffered during pregame warmups in Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers further derailed his progress.
The injury lingered, limiting his playing time, and he was ultimately placed on injured reserve in November. The Lions activated his 21-day return window on Jan. 9, but he wasn’t ready for the Divisional Round against the Washington Commanders. With Detroit’s season ending that day, his chance to return before the year’s conclusion disappeared.
In total, Rakestraw appeared in eight games during his rookie season, logging 46 defensive snaps and 95 special teams snaps. With his debut year behind him, he’ll look to make a bigger impact in 2025. Depending on how the Lions handle free agency—particularly with Carlton Davis set to hit the open market—Rakestraw could find himself in a significant role next season.
Rakestraw Reveals Missed Opportunity Amid Rookie Struggles
During locker cleanout day after Detroit’s playoff exit, Rakestraw revealed a surprising detail about his season.
“I actually was (going to) have an opportunity to play. That was gonna be the Tampa Bay week, and I was coming up as the starting nickel that week,” he shared. “A lot of people didn’t know that. I got hurt in warmups, that was kind of a set-back, a step back.”
Back in rookie minicamp, Rakestraw received reps in the slot despite primarily playing outside cornerback in college. The Lions clearly saw value in finding a way to get him on the field early, and he was lined up to start at nickel before his Week 2 injury. Amik Robertson eventually secured the role and held onto it until he had to move outside following Davis’ late-season injury.
Now, Rakestraw understands his top priority heading into his second year.
“So now I’ve just got to be available. It kind of was a redshirt year, but you don’t get to pick those situations,” he said. “You don’t pick to be hurt, I never picked that for myself.”
To prepare for a larger role next season, Rakestraw plans to train with fellow defensive backs Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch, and Terrion Arnold this offseason, building chemistry with his teammates while continuing to develop his game.
