Detroit Lions 2024 second-round pick and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. had a very quiet spring thanks to his being limited throughout offseason practices. However, as he recently revealed, things are just fine with him.
Rakestraw was clearly being eased in by the Lions after he was forced to undergo core muscle surgery earlier this year that led to his missing the Senior Bowl in February.
But Rakestraw assured everyone that he has been fine the whole time and his limited work was simply done as a precaution. In the meantime, the rookie says he's been "getting stronger, getting healthy."
"I’ve been fine this whole time," Rakestraw, per Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket. "They were just doing that because of what happened during my season, they didn't want to rush nothin'. So I just stayed with the plan, stayed getting stronger, getting healthy. When it’s time to show everybody, it’s time to show everybody."
So, what has Rakestraw been doing during the spring?
"He hasn’t done much but walk-throughs. That’s the thing of not having him out here," DBs coach DeShea Townsend. "But he’ll do whatever is asked, he plays outside, inside. But for him, it’s just good to get meaningful reps."
Of course, the obvious concern with a rookie missing so much time is that he'll be behind, which could slow his progression in Year 1. That could make earning a role right away even more difficult in what is a crowded cornerbacks room.
Rakestraw was going to have a tough time earning a starting role anyway, though. Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold were always expected to man the two spots on the boundary, and Brian Branch figures to resume his role in the slot, although Detroit has made it clear they may use him at safety more in 2024.
Knowing that, the clearest path for Rakestraw to see work might be in the slot, but he'll have veteran Amik Robertson to contend with. Robertson has been seeing reps there this offseason with Branch sidelined, as has Rakestraw when he's been on the field.
Despite all the competition in the cornerbacks room, Rakestraw noted that the veterans are "treating us like little brothers and teaching us the steps of the way."
The deck is no doubt stacked against Rakestraw in terms of grabbing a significant role ahead of his first season, but he can greatly improve his chances with a strong showing at training camp once it begins late next month.
