The Detroit Lions appear to have dodged a bullet with Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Rakestraw left Thursday’s practice after going down while changing direction during a team period, creating another uncomfortable injury moment for a cornerback who has already dealt with far too many of them during his NFL career.
On Friday morning, FOX 2’s Dan Miller provided some encouraging news. Rakestraw is dealing with an ankle injury, but it is not expected to be serious, Miller reported. His availability for Saturday’s preseason game against the Washington Commanders remains undetermined.
Considering how Thursday’s injury looked, that’s about as good an update as Detroit could have hoped for.
Rakestraw collapsed while attempting to change direction in coverage, eventually getting back to his feet and walking slowly off the practice field under his own power. The initial report from Thursday’s practice classified the issue only as a lower-leg injury because Detroit had not yet provided a diagnosis.
Now we have one, and more importantly, there is no indication another lengthy absence is coming.
Lions Shouldn’t Rush Rakestraw Back
Whether Rakestraw plays against Washington should be a pretty easy decision for Dan Campbell.
If there’s any doubt about the ankle, sit him.
Yes, Rakestraw needs preseason snaps. He has spent much of his first two NFL seasons injured, and he acknowledged earlier this month that staying healthy has become central to proving himself. He’s also competing for playing time in a secondary where Detroit still has decisions to make opposite D.J. Reed.
But one preseason game isn’t worth turning a minor ankle injury into something more troublesome.
The Lions host Washington at noon Saturday in their only home game of the 2026 preseason. If Rakestraw is cleared and Detroit’s medical staff has no concerns, getting him live work would certainly have value. If he’s even slightly compromised, there will be another preseason game in Indianapolis next weekend.
Rakestraw has already had one scare this preseason. He left the Cincinnati game after a collision, only for testing to reveal a contusion rather than structural damage. He returned to practice quickly after that injury.
Now comes scare No. 2.
The encouraging part is that neither appears likely to cost him significant time. For Rakestraw, whose first two seasons have been repeatedly interrupted by injuries, “not serious” is pretty darn good news.
Detroit can figure out Saturday later.
Getting Rakestraw to September healthy matters considerably more.
