Injuries were a huge storyline for the Detroit Lions' defense in 2024.
Unfortunately that was also the case for rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Early injury troubles forced him to miss out on a big opportunity to play early in the season that just might have changed the course of his rookie season.
During locker room clean out earlier this week, Rakestraw said he was set to start at the nickel cornerback spot Week 2 vs. Tampa Bay but suffered a hamstring injury in warm-ups.
"A lot of people didn't know that," Rakestraw said of the plan for him to be a starter early in the season. "I got hurt in warm-ups. So, it was kind of setback and step back."
Rakestraw missed a couple weeks with the injury and veteran Amik Robertson established himself in the slot and never relinquished the nickel cornerback role. Rakestraw ended up playing just 46 defensive snaps this season as he missed nine games total due to injury.
"So now what I just got to do is be available," Rakestraw said. "It kind of was a redshirt year. But you don't get to pick those situations. Don't nobody just pick to be hurt. You know, I never picked it for myself."
It was certainly a frustrating first season for Detroit's second-round pick, but Rakestraw is using it as fuel to come back stronger next season and be a big part of this secondary in 2025.
"This just brings me back to my roots of everybody doubting me and not believing that a kid from West Dallas can do this," he said. "So I'm just appreciative that they gave me my fire back. I'll use it in the offseason. I'll be better, I promise."
The Lions used their first two picks on cornerback Terrion Arnold and Rakestraw as general manager Brad Holmes said his first and second-round picks were the top two cornerbacks on Detroit's draft board. Rakestraw missed most of the spring as he recovered from a sports hernia that required surgery and cut short his senior season at Missouri. He also dealt with an ankle injury in training camp.
He started the season with a role on special teams but was going to get his chance to make an impact defensively Week 2 had he not pulled a hamstring in warm-ups.
He ended up playing spot duty defensively totaling just eight percent of Detroit's defensive snaps on the season, allowing four receptions for 53 yards in the six times he was targeted in 23 coverage reps.
The hamstring injury really nagged at him all season long and eventually landed him on injured reserve.
Rakestraw could be in line for a bigger role next season in a Detroit secondary that could look different with cornerback Carlton Davis III set to be an unrestricted free agent. If he doesn't re-sign, Robertson could move outside and that could leave Rakestraw competing for the nickel job.
He plans to train with teammates and fellow defensive backs Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch and Arnold this offseason and feels like he's ready for a bigger role next season.
"Every situation that came to me, ask anybody in the training room, anybody in the building, I took it under the chin and I kept going, showed face, smiled every day and it just didn't go my way," Rakestraw said. "And in some aspects in life, everything don't go your way, but it's not about that no more. It's the next step. We already lost, game over with. Now, let's develop a new habit, new body and be available. That's all I can do."
