Don't tell Detroit Lions cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. that the preseason is meaningless.
The 2024 second-rounder has plenty at stake over the next two weeks after a rough performance in a preseason Week 1 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed four receptions on five targets for 44 yards as the nearest coverage defender while receiving the site's worst grade among Lions defenders (28.3). This preseason, only four corners have a worse grade.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. could be fighting for a roster spot over final two weeks of preseason
With Rock-Ya Sin and D.J. Reed commanding snaps at outside corner on the first-team defense, Rakestraw is part of the competition for a backup role, and he has significant ground to make up after the dismal showing against Cincinnati.
The Lions will likely keep either five or six corners on their 53-man roster, and Roger McCreary and rookie Keith Abney appear safe to make the team as top options in the slot, leaving one — possibly two — cornerback spots open.
Former undrafted free agents Khalil Dorsey and Nick Whiteside had more impressive showings against Cincinnati to gain ground on the more highly-rated prospect coming out of college. Dorsey only allowed one reception and also recorded a stop on two tackles. Whiteside recorded a pass breakup on his one target in 20 coverage snaps.
Rakestraw, meanwhile, only played 22 snaps total due to an arm contusion. But that didn't prevent him from practicing over the weekend. Per the Detroit Free Press, the former Missouri Tigers defensive back spoke with reporters about his ugly PFF grade and blasted the site, arguing, "They don't know what they're talking about anyway. They couldn't even tell me what coverage I was in."
That's not true, however, with PFF providing splits between his man and zone coverage reps. To Rakestraw's credit, he fared better in five-man coverage snaps, allowing one reception on two targets for eight yards. In zone, receivers caught all three targets against Rakestraw for 36 yards, including eight after the catch.
Friday's game marked Rakestraw's first action since the 2025 Hall of Fame Game, so it's entirely possible rust impacted his performance.
"I was kind of anxious out there," Rakestraw told reporters. "And then when the bullets got to flying, I'm like, 'OK, I'm back to football.'"
With more in-game reps, he could show marked improvement over the next two weeks.
He might have to.
Rakestraw, who has two years — including 2026 — remaining on his rookie contract, has underwhelmed since joining the Lions. He only appeared in eight games and played 46 defensive snaps as a rookie before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury during a training camp practice in August 2025.
The clock is ticking for him to carve out a space in the Lions' defensive backfield. The next two weeks could be key to determining Rakestraw's future and whether he has one in Detroit.
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