Detroit Lions fans can breathe a sigh of relief after the latest update on cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.'s injury.
Fox 2 Detroit's Dan Miller reported on X that Rakestraw, who left Thursday's practice early, suffered an ankle injury that is "Not expected to be serious." Miller added at the time that Rakestraw's status for the Lions' second preseason game against the Washington Commanders is "TBD."
Rakestraw's injury scare comes after what was an encouraging bounce back week for the young corner. Rakestraw had rocky preseason opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, before leaving the game with a contusion.
It highlights just how little room for error there is in the CB room after the release of Terrion Arnold. Don't expect Pittsburgh Steelers' Joey Porter Jr. to suddenly be traded to Detroit amid his contract negotiation. Instead, the Lions are likely going to roll with what they got or explore what CBs remain in the free agency pool.
That may just be the right call, as Nick Whiteside's continued ascension has been an absolute gift for the Lions and their CB room this offseason.
Whiteside is becoming more than just insurance
It was just one year ago when Whiteside was among the Lions' final roster cuts, after one season in the UFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks. The Michigan native and former Saginaw Valley State Cardinal signed back with the Lions in early October, and made his main roster debut with the team ten days later.
Whiteside would ultimately play nine games for the Lions in 2025. He racked up five tackles and three passes defended, with all three pass defenses coming against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then-MVP candidate Baker Mayfield. Whiteside continued to step-up for the Lions, amounting to an 83.0 grade on Pro Football Focus in his 51 snaps as a member of the no-name "Legion of Whom."
There's nothing "no-name" about Whiteside now, after the offseason he's had. The playmaker has been continually turning heads in practice, both on defense and on special teams. That continued into the Bengals loss, where PFF graded him out as the Lions' fifth best defender at a 75.4 grade after one tackle and one pass deflection.
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It should no longer be a question of whether or not Whiteside makes the 53-man roster. It'd be foolish if he didn't. The question now is if his performance is good enough to snatch the CB2 spot from Rock Ya-Sin. That's not even a knock on Ya-Sin, who's had a good offseason himself, but more an indication of how impressive Whiteside has been.
Ya-Sin is still listed as CB2 in the latest official depth chart, but Rakestraw's injury scare is another reminder of how quickly things can change. Thankfully, Whiteside has risen to become a comfortable safety net for the Lions in case Ya-Sin or D.J. Reed do have to miss time.
Just don't assume Whiteside will give back the starting job if he does have to fill in.
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