The Detroit Lions entered training camp with a ton of questions about the secondary, at corner and safety, and those questions are still unanswered. The biggest question at the corner position is who will start opposite DJ Reed.
It’s still early, with the team just getting in pads on Monday, but a few players have emerged in the battle. According to head coach Dan Campbell, those players are Rock Ya-Sin, Ennis Rakestraw Jr., and Nick Whiteside. Ya-Sin and Rakestraw are the two expected names, but Whiteside is a bit of a surprise.
Campbell detailed the battle to the media on Monday, and praised Whiteside for making plays everyday of camp. Following his statement about Whiteside, the head coach emphasized that things are about to get really interesting in the cornerback room.
"Whiteside has made plays everyday — special teams and on defense. Everyday. There’s not been a day yet, we’ve had four practices, where he has not made plays. So, this is about to get interesting. It’s going to be really interesting."Dan Campbell
Dan Campbell praises playmaker Nick Whiteside for emerging in Lions’ cornerback battle
Whiteside, a Michigan native who attended Saginaw Valley State, entered the league in 2023 as an undrafted player. After a brief stint with the Washington Commanders, Whiteside spent a year in the UFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks. He made his way back to the NFL in July 2025, when Detroit signed him.
The corner was waived after last year’s training camp, and re-signed to the practice squad. He eventually made his way to the active roster, and appeared in nine games. In those games, Whiteside recorded just five tackles and three pass deflections.
He has seemingly elevated his game in his return for training camp this year. As Campbell highlighted, big plays from Whiteside has become a norm through the first four days of training camp. If he can carve out a role for himself as the starting corner, it would be a phenomenal story for the homegrown talent.
Of course, there's still plenty of work to be done for Whiteside, but if he continues to make plays on defense and special teams, his spot on the regular season roster will be secured.
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