Tag: Ennis Rakestraw

Detroit Lions injuries mount with 4 of top 5 cornerbacks sidelined

ALLEN PARK — After just five games — four straight wins — injuries are mounting for the Lions, especially in the secondary with four of the top five cornerbacks out.

The latest is Terrion Arnold. Coach Dan Campbell said on Monday that he’ll be out for a long time with a shoulder injury. He did not know if his injury is season-ending.

Arnold started in Sunday’s 37-24 win at Cincinnati and finished with a tackle and two defended passes.

“I just thought he was very competitive, I thought he was calm, he was cool, and I thought this was one of the better games he’s played in a while,’’ Campbell said. “I thought he was really good. We put a lot on him and I thought he answered the bell.’’

Now he’s out along with corner D.J. Reed who is on injured reserve after a hamstring injury in Week 4.

Cornerback Khalil Dorsey showed up on the injury report last week with a wrist injury and did not play Sunday. He also will be out for a while.

In August the Lions lost CB Ennis Rakestraw for the season due to a shoulder injury.

Campbell compared it to the run of defensive injuries last season except then it was front-end guys, now it’s the secondary.

“The front end was last year — the D-line, we got hit at linebacker. Now we’re pretty good there now it’s on the back end,’’ Campbell said. “You tweak a couple things and the front has got to get there a little quicker and our DBs get up there to challenge and compete. We’ll adjust, we’ll adapt, we’ll move on.’’

Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin saw more action Sunday and likely will moving forward.

“I thought (Ya-Sin) did a good job yesterday. He did exactly what we asked him to do. The plan was good and he executed well in that plan,’’ Campbell said. “Here’s what you love about Rock, he plays fearless, he’s not afraid, he doesn’t care who he’s going against, he’s aggressive, he’ll challenge at the release points, he challenges at the catch point, he’ll run up, he’ll tackle, he’ll hit. That’s all you can ask for, that’s what we’re looking for.’’

Like coaches everywhere Campbell is all about the next man up. They practice that way, giving backups reps at their positions. No excuses, no head-hanging.

“This train doesn’t stop for anybody, it doesn’t matter who it is or what it is,’’ Campbell said. “We have to go, nobody cares, nobody is going to feel sorry for you. You put your best 22 out there – offense, defense and special teams. You’ve got to find a way to win the game. You use all three phases to do it and we will use all three phases to do it.’’

NEXT UP: Lions (4-1) at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12)

Lions Brad Holmes preaches patience when it comes to NFL draft

Lions own 28th overall pick, plus 6 in later rounds

ALLEN PARK — As Brad Holmes works on the final preparation for his fifth NFL draft as the Lions GM, it may be wise to remember that he’s not a needs guy, he is looking for the best player available.

Think the Lions need a pass rusher? You’re not alone, but that does not mean Holmes will draft one in the first round with the 28th pick on Thursday night or even the second round on Friday.

“I sometimes don’t understand the whole need thing because when each season ends it’s going to be something else. Like another player’s contract is going to end, another player might unfortunately be coming off an injury. It’s going to be something different every single offseason,’’ Holmes said in his pre-draft presser.

He’s not trying to chase what happened last season when pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson’s season ended in week 5 with a brutal broken leg. He’s a big picture GM.

Holmes, along with coach Dan Campbell, has turned the Lions franchise around. In four drafts, he’s selected six Pro Bowlers. Whatever he’s been doing certainly seems to work even if the pundits might scratch their heads with certain picks. 

“Look, we loved (Ennis) Rakestraw and unfortunately he just wasn’t as healthy so he wasn’t able to help as much last year but we’re really excited and looking forward to what he will bring this year,’’ Holmes said.

For Holmes, patience is virtue.

“ When you start chasing need, well that need might make sense for right now at this time but what we make these picks for is future investments,’’ Holmes said. “We live in a society that everything is right now, right now, right now. I understand it too when a player gets drafted and so much fascination is made about the draft, people are excited about it, they want to see it right now. They don’t want to wait and be patient, but there’s just patience.’’

He uses WR Jameson Williams as an example. He jumped 20 spots up to draft him.

“He was coming off his injury. We knew maybe he could play a little bit late in the season, but we weren’t planning on it,’’ Holmes said.

Williams had a breakout season in 2024. 

Patience.

The Lions have the 28th pick in the first round, followed by one pick in Round 2 (60th), one in Round 3 (102nd), one in Round 4 (130th), one in Round 6 (196th) and two in Round 7 (228th and 244th).

(The NFL draft opens Thursday, April 24, at 8 p.m. with the first round. The second and third rounds set for Friday at 7 p.m. Rounds 4-7 will start at noon on Saturday.)

Detroit Lions rookie corners credit their moms with helping them reach the NFL

Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., saw first day of action at rookie minicamp on Friday

ALLEN PARK — Terrion Arnold, the Detroit Lions first-round draft pick, says his competitive nature was something he learned from his mom.

“I used to fight, just wrestling with her, playing around. I‘ll never forget that one time my mom kicked my tooth out because we were going at it so hard,’’ Arnold said after the opening day of Lions rookie minicamp on Friday.

“If my mom was out here right now and she lined up across from me as a receiver I would jam her into the dirt. My mom knows that right now, I just mean it football wise that’s the way I think , the way I was brought up,’’ the cornerback explained.

When he donned his uniform — featuring the number 0 — for the first time Friday morning, he sent a photo to his mom and family.

“And they were like, ‘You finally made it, now it’s time to get to work.’ So that’s just the structure and the way I was brought up,’’ Arnold said. “I made a name for myself in college (at Alabama), now it’s time to go out here. Coming here, coming to win, win the Super Bowl that’s the goal.’’

His mom sent him a devotional Friday morning telling him: “Son, you’re here for a reason, for such a time as this, go out and make it count.’’

Arnold said he also got his smile from his mom and he was flashing it after practice, interrupting cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.’s press conference with a few questions of his own. Rakestraw returned the favor. They seem like close buddies already and the vibe seemed genuine.

“Those two are going to compete. I’m sure Rakestraw thinks he’s better and Terrion thinks he’s better. So they’re going to compete, which is a great thing for us, we want competitiveness,’’ Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew said on Friday.  “We don’t want guys that bow down, we want guys to compete and think they’re going to win the spot. I think both of those guys feel like they’re starters but they’ve got their work cut out for them.’’

While they look forward to learning from and competing with veterans, it was all smiles on Friday.

“Coming in here, being the young guys, the dynamic is we’re going to be here for a long time,’’ Arnold said. “We’re going to grow together, we’re going to excel together, take our losses together, take them on the chest. I just thank the organization for drafting both of us, that’s my brother right here.’’

Both agreed it was a dream come true to officially be an NFL player by slipping on the practice uniform..

Rakestraw, a second-round pick who will wear No 15, also credited his mom for helping him get this far.

“My mom had me three days after being 16, we had a real strong bond. I’m here today all thanks to her 100 percent, not me,’’ said Rakestraw who played at Missouri.

Rookie minicamp will wrap up on Sunday, Mother’s Day. Arnold and Rakestraw’s moms won’t see their sons that day, but they will have much to celebrate.