It doesn't look as dismal as it did coming into the season, but cornerback Ennis Rakestraw is one of the last men standing in a 2024 Detroit Lions' draft class that has put a dent in general manager Brad Holmes' reputation.
Injuries were the big black mark on Rakestraw's first two NFL seasons, then he was a healthy scratch for each of the first two games this season. Being rendered unable to help a secondary that needs all the help it can possibly get was an incredibly bad sign.
Rakestraw played 89 defensive snaps over three games before the bye week. Largely operating as an outside corner (82 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus). Data varies across sources, but PFF has credited him with allowing five catches on 11 targets in his coverage with a 63.8 passer rating allowed.
Three of those catches allowed (on five targets) came in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers, which by every measure was a horrible day for the entire Lions' defense. Not that anyone should get a pass, but it's the one bad game for Rakestraw in the three he has played this season.
Opportunity is knocking loudly for Ennis Rakestraw in Week 7 vs. Packers
A bye week on the early end of the season is usually not ideal. But the Week 6 bye was a good time for the Lions to pause and evaluate things, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Who deserves more playing time? Who should, in concert with that, see less playing time? How should roles change?
As shared by Zach Kruse of Packers Wire, per Next Gen Stats, the Lions have two of the four cornerbacks who have allowed the most EPA in coverage so far this season.
Most coverage EPA allowed this season, per @NextGenStats:
— Zach Kruse (@zachkruse2) October 22, 2026
1. DJ Reed, DET: +31.1
2. DaRon Bland, DAL: +28.6
3. Alontae Taylor, TEN: +21.6
4. Roger McCreary, DET: +20.6
Among LBs:
1. Jack Campbell, DET: +15.2
Good, bad or very ugly, Reed isn't going anywhere as the Lions' No. 1 cornerback. It'd be nice if he didn't celebrate making a play or two when he's otherwise getting torched throughout a game, but his role isn't changing.
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McCreary playing 71 percent of the defensive snaps through five games is more a sign of the Lions' cornerback situation than his performance being worthy of that kind of playing time. Rock Ya-Sin missed Week 5, but he has never been a starting-caliber cornerback, and it was his playing time Rakestraw took over the two previous games (13 total defensive snaps in Week 3 and 4).
Rakestraw has been the path to the least profit for opposing passing games in the games he has played this season. That should bring a continued uptick in his playing time in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, and he may start.
Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been a proficient downfield thrower this season, with the targets (Christian Watson, Matthew Golden) to turn those downfield shots into numerous big plays. And Golden dropped two would-be touchdowns that were on-target throws in Week 6.
Rakestraw, assuming he gets the uptick in playing time he should, will be tested big-time on Sunday. If he gets it done against Watson and Golden, the urgency for the Lions to trade for a cornerback would at least be greatly diminished.
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