Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Suffers Injury During Lions Preseason Loss to Bengals

On Thursday night, the Detroit Lions experienced an unfortunate setback during their preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was forced to leave the field due to an injury sustained while trying to make a tackle. The extent of the injury remained unknown at the time. This news came as a blow to the Lions, considering Rakestraw's history of injuries that have already affected his first two NFL seasons.

The team had selected Rakestraw in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, but he had limited playing time as a rookie, logging just 46 defensive snaps in his first season and only six career tackles before 2026. The preseason was seen as a crucial opportunity for Rakestraw to regain his footing in the competitive cornerback position, where Nick Whiteside had emerged as a standout player.

The Lions had already dealt with a significant loss when they released Terrion Arnold, and now they were left with D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin as their primary outside corners, with Rakestraw and other players vying for the remaining spots. The Lions were counting on Rakestraw to provide depth and stability, but this latest injury could potentially derail his development.

The severity of the injury was yet to be confirmed, but the timing of this setback could not have been worse for the Lions, who now face the possibility of even less depth in their cornerback position.