Ennis Rakestraw Has Two Preseason Games to Change the Conversation

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. entered the 2026 preseason with something to prove.

After missing significant time with injuries and struggling to establish himself in Detroit's crowded cornerback room, Rakestraw needed a strong preseason to show the Lions that he could be trusted with meaningful snaps this season. Instead, his preseason debut against the Cincinnati Bengals raised more questions than answers.

Rakestraw's night ended early after suffering what Dan Campbell described as a minor arm contusion, but the bigger issue is what happened before he left the game.

According to Pro Football Focus' numbers cited by Pride of Detroit, Rakestraw allowed four completions on five targets for 44 yards and received a 28.3 overall grade, one of the lowest grades among defensive backs in the first week of the preseason.

That's not necessarily enough to write him off. It is preseason, after all. But for Rakestraw, this isn't simply about one bad game. It's about a roster spot that suddenly looks far less secure than it did when training camp began.

The Competition Isn't Waiting

Detroit's cornerback room has become one of the more interesting position battles on the roster. Rock Ya-Sin has been competing for a bigger role. Roger McCreary has played well. Christian Izien and rookie Keith Abney have received positive attention, while Nick Whiteside has consistently made plays throughout camp. The Lions also recently added Ekow Boye-Doe to the mix.

That matters because Rakestraw isn't competing against empty roster spots. He's competing against players who are actively making cases to take them.

Dan Campbell acknowledged earlier in camp that Rakestraw has shown flashes but had also dealt with inconsistencies. Campbell said those inconsistencies were becoming less frequent, which was encouraging, but the Bengals game certainly didn't eliminate those concerns.

And that's where the next two preseason games become important.

Rakestraw Needs to Show Something

Nobody should be declaring Rakestraw a bust because of one preseason game. There's plenty of context. He had limited opportunities to establish himself, and this was his first preseason action in a long time. His injury also cut his night short.

But Dan Campbell and the Detroit Lions don't just hand out roster spots based on draft position or potential. Rakestraw was a second-round pick in 2024. At this point, the Lions need to see the player they believed they were drafting.

That means better coverage. Better consistency. Better tackling, and most importantly, simply showing that he can stay on the field and contribute.

Interestingly, Campbell also pushed back on one criticism of Rakestraw after the game, explaining that a third-and-long defensive mistake wasn't actually Rakestraw's responsibility because an underneath defender had missed an assignment.

So the film isn't as simple as saying, "Rakestraw got cooked, end of story." But the overall performance still wasn't good enough.

Two Games Left to Change The Conversation

The Lions don't need Rakestraw to suddenly become a Pro Bowl corner over the next two weeks. They need him to look dependable.

If Rakestraw can put together two strong preseason performances, make a few plays on the ball, tackle consistently and show that he can handle his assignments, the conversation changes quickly.

If he struggles again, however, Detroit has enough competition behind him that the coaching staff could realistically decide another player gives them more value. That's the uncomfortable reality of preseason. Nobody is guaranteed anything.

Rakestraw still has an opportunity to take control of his situation. But after a disappointing first showing against Cincinnati, the margin for error is getting smaller.

The next two games aren't necessarily about saving his career in Detroit. They're about proving he belongs on the 53-man roster. And right now, that's something Rakestraw still has to prove.

The talent is there. The opportunity is there. Now he has to put it on the field.