The Detroit Lions will be even more shorthanded than they expected when they take the field this Friday for their second preseason game of the fall as they travel to Atlanta for a showdown against the Falcons.
While some regular starters will continue to sit these exhibitions out to preserve their health for when the results matter, one second-year player defender for Detroit who saw time in the Hall of Fame Game is unlikely to see the field this weekend, or anytime soon, for that matter.
Being as Lions head coach Dan Campbell was a player himself for a long time, he can relate to the entire range of emotions the former second-round pick is going through after suffering a shoulder injury during the team's practice session on Sunday.
#Lions coach Dan Campbell says the team will know more "in due time" about the shoulder injury CB Ennis Rakestraw suffered yesterday, but he doesn't sound optimistic.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) August 4, 2025
"You hate it for the kid. You hate it. It's not his fault, just one of those tough deals."
Dan Campbell Heartbroken Over Ennis Rakestraw's New Injury Concern
If battling through a chest injury wasn't tough enough, former Missouri Tigers standout cornerback Ennis Rakestraw is now dealing with a shoulder injury, which he suffered in the early going of Sunday's training camp practice, via Jeremy Reisman of PrideofDetroit.com.
Per Reisman, Rakestraw was injured during his first rep in one-on-one tackling drills as he came down hard enough on his shoulder while attempting to tackle third-year wide receiver Tom Kennedy that he did what appears to be some serious damage to that area. The cornerback was assisted immediately by Detroit's medical staff but did not return to the practice field.
For Campbell to be this shaken up over the injury and what it means for Rakestraw moving forward this season, it sounds like something that could linger well into the regular season. After appearing in just eight games and recording six total tackles during his rookie season, Rakestraw had his sights set on making a bigger impact during his sophomore campaign in the NFL.
Unfortunately, now those dreams are on hold until the full extent of the injury he suffered is known. It is never appropriate to read too deeply into comments made by coaches following an injury. However, Campbell only saying that more would be known "in due time" isn't exactly the most optimistic outlook.