If not for a sports hernia that ended his final season at Missouri early, and a groin injury that cut his NFL Combine performance short, Ennis Rakestraw might have been a first-round pick last April. But he fell into the second round, and the Detroit Lions took him at pick No. 61 as they double-dipped at cornerback with their first two picks.
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Injuries were unfortunately a prominent part of Rakestraw's rookie season. He dealt with an ankle injury during training camp. Then he was a late scratch due to a hamstring injury during pregame warmups before Week 2 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. That injury lingered after that, limiting his playing time and he eventually landed on IR in November. His 21-day activation window was opened on Jan. 9, but he wasn't ready to go for the Divisional Round game against the Washington Commanders and the Lions' loss rendered any idea he could've returned before the end of the season moot.
When it was all said and done Rakestraw played eight games during his rookie season (46 defensive snaps, 95 special teams snaps). There's nowhere to go but up in Year 2, and if things go a certain way for the Lions this offseason (Carlton Davis is a free agent), Rakestraw could be in line for a big role next season.
Ennis Rakestraw made surprising reveal as looks toward second season
When the Lions cleaned out their lockers after the season-ending loss to Washington, Rakestraw made a surprising reveal to reporters when looking back on his injury-hampered rookie season.
"I actually was (going to) have an opportunity to play. That was gonna be the Tampa Bay week, and I was coming up as the starting nickel that week," Rakestraw. "A lot of people didn’t know that. I got hurt in warmups, that was kind of a set-back, a step back."
During rookie minicamp last May, Rakestraw saw work in the slot despite primarily being an outside corner in college. That was an obvious effort to find a way to get him on the field early, and it lined him to be the starter there before his Week 2 setback. Amik Robertson then became the clear starting nickel corner, and he didn't relinquish the role until he had to replace an injured Davis on the outside late in the season.
Rakestraw knows what the biggest key will be for him moving toward his second season.
"So now I’ve just got to be available. It kind of was a redshirt year, but you don’t get to pick those situations", Rakestraw said. "You don’t pick to be hurt, I never picked that for myself."
Rakestraw added that he plans to work out with Kerby Joseph, Brian Branch and Terrion Arnold this offseason, to forge relationships with his secondary mates and of course get better as he eyes the prospect of a bigger role next season.
