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Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is looking to make his mark in the NFL as he enters his third season with the Detroit Lions. With the release of Terrion Arnold over the summer, there is an opening for Rakestraw at the outside cornerback position.
Rakestraw missed the entire 2025 Lions season due to shoulder surgery. He missed about half of the 2024 season due to multiple hamstring strains. Staying healthy is one his priorities for 2026.
Recently, Rakestraw spoke to the media after a training camp practice.
"Everybody preaching to me, 'Please stay healthy. We're going to need you.' So, that's what I'm trying to do. Stay healthy," Rakestraw said.
"I changed my mind from thinking long-term, I'm on short-term now," he said. "The long-term will eventually pick up, but right now healthy today, pray thank God, fix what I need to fix (from the practice tape), tomorrow.
"If you go out there thinking about what happened the last play it can happen again and again and again," he said. "That's when bad stuff happens. Just next-play mentality with everything I do in my life now," Rakestraw said.
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said last week that Rakestraw is in the best place of his young career mentally.
"I'll say with (Rakestraw), the talent was always there. As far as getting his body ready to take on and endure what he's about to have to endure this year, again, the stretch of 21, 22 weeks. Then mentally, that's where I think you guys are going to see him take the biggest jump.
"Understanding, recognizing formations, what do we need him to do on this call? Not just going out thinking, 'I got this guy. I got my man.' No, learn to play with leverage. Understand where the safeties at. Understand where your help is. That's where I've seen the biggest jump," Sheppard said.
At just 24 years old, Rakestraw is still a young, promising prospect. He is a 2024 second-round pick and I still have high expectations for him.
One of the best second-round picks in recent Lions' memory is another cornerback in Darius Slay, who struggled a bit early in his NFL career. I'm hoping that Rakestraw can follow in Slay's footsteps and overcome early struggles to have a long, fantastic career.
So far in training camp, Rakestraw has been healthy and making plays as evidenced here:
While Rock Ya-Sin is probably the favorite to start at CB opposite DJ Reed, it would be ideal for the Lions long-term if the young Rakestraw, who is signed through 2027, can win the job.
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions' Ennis Rakestraw Jr. focused on 'short-term' as he enters 2026
Continue reading...
Rakestraw missed the entire 2025 Lions season due to shoulder surgery. He missed about half of the 2024 season due to multiple hamstring strains. Staying healthy is one his priorities for 2026.
Recently, Rakestraw spoke to the media after a training camp practice.
"Everybody preaching to me, 'Please stay healthy. We're going to need you.' So, that's what I'm trying to do. Stay healthy," Rakestraw said.
"I changed my mind from thinking long-term, I'm on short-term now," he said. "The long-term will eventually pick up, but right now healthy today, pray thank God, fix what I need to fix (from the practice tape), tomorrow.
"If you go out there thinking about what happened the last play it can happen again and again and again," he said. "That's when bad stuff happens. Just next-play mentality with everything I do in my life now," Rakestraw said.
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said last week that Rakestraw is in the best place of his young career mentally.
"I'll say with (Rakestraw), the talent was always there. As far as getting his body ready to take on and endure what he's about to have to endure this year, again, the stretch of 21, 22 weeks. Then mentally, that's where I think you guys are going to see him take the biggest jump.
"Understanding, recognizing formations, what do we need him to do on this call? Not just going out thinking, 'I got this guy. I got my man.' No, learn to play with leverage. Understand where the safeties at. Understand where your help is. That's where I've seen the biggest jump," Sheppard said.
At just 24 years old, Rakestraw is still a young, promising prospect. He is a 2024 second-round pick and I still have high expectations for him.
One of the best second-round picks in recent Lions' memory is another cornerback in Darius Slay, who struggled a bit early in his NFL career. I'm hoping that Rakestraw can follow in Slay's footsteps and overcome early struggles to have a long, fantastic career.
So far in training camp, Rakestraw has been healthy and making plays as evidenced here:
While Rock Ya-Sin is probably the favorite to start at CB opposite DJ Reed, it would be ideal for the Lions long-term if the young Rakestraw, who is signed through 2027, can win the job.
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Jimmy on X, @JimmyLiaoMD
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions' Ennis Rakestraw Jr. focused on 'short-term' as he enters 2026
Continue reading...
