Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Injury News & Updates
Keep up with the latest injuries from the Giants vs Lions game on Sunday with our National Football League injury report.Aug 7, 2025
Out for season after IR placement
Rakestraw (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery after being injured in practice this past Sunday. He will miss the entire 2025 season. The 2024 second-round draft pick appeared in eight games during his rookie regular season.
Aug 5, 2025
Expected to miss action
Rakestraw (shoulder) is set to be sidelined for an extended period of time, Justin Rogers of DetroitFootball.net reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw suffered a left shoulder injury at practice Sunday, and appears to be looking at a prolonged absence. The exact nature of the injury has yet to be disclosed, while medical evaluation is still ongoing. "I think it's going to be a while, at best," head coach Dan Campbell relayed Monday, which is vague, but not promising. On the bright side, Rakestraw hasn't been placed on season-ending injured reserve, which seems to suggest that a return in 2025 is still on the table for the 23-year-old. In his absence, Amik Robertson will remain the clear front-runner to handle the starting duties at slot cornerback with Detroit this season.
Aug 3, 2025
Exits practice with shoulder injury
Rakestraw left Sunday's training camp practice early due to a left shoulder injury, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw landed on his left shoulder during a one-on-one tackling drill. It's bad timing for the 2024 second-rounder, who is working to establish a more consistent role for himself in the defense after ending his rookie season on IR due to a hamstring injury. Rakestraw will undergo further testing to determine the severity of the injury, but he is in jeopardy of missing the Lions' preseason opener against the Falcons on Friday.
Jul 26, 2025
Back in action Saturday
Rakestraw (chest) returned to practice Saturday, Colton Pouncy of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw suffered a chest injury last Sunday, and just as head coach Dan Campbell predicted, he only missed a few days. The 2024 second-round pick only played 46 defensive snaps across eight regular-season games last season before finishing the year on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Amik Robertson is expected to start at slot cornerback again this season unless Rakestraw can steal the job in training camp.
Jul 21, 2025
Expected to miss a few days
Coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Rakestraw (chest) is expected to miss just a few days, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw suffered a chest contusion in practice Sunday, but the injury isn't expected to sideline him long. Once healthy enough to resume practicing, Rakestraw will continue to compete with Amik Robertson for the nickel cornerback spot.
Jul 20, 2025
Dealing with chest injury
Rakestraw suffered a chest contusion at the Lions' practice Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw was forced to exit practice early with an apparent chest injury, which is now understood to be just a contusion, avoiding a major injury. The cornerback was limited to eight games in his rookie season last year due to a hamstring issue, and he's competing with Amik Robertson for the team's starting role at slot cornerback in 2025.
Jun 5, 2025
Back in action
Rakestraw (hamstring) is a full participant in OTAs, Jimmy Liao of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
The cornerback missed the final two months of the 2024 campaign with the hamstring issue. In the eight games he did play, Rakestraw recorded six tackles (four solo) on 95 special-teams snaps and 46 defensive snaps. A 2024 second-round pick, Rakestraw could compete for a larger role in Detroit's secondary this year.
Jan 30, 2025
Ends 2024 on injured reserve
Rakestraw (hamstring) played in eight regular-season games in 2024 and finished with six tackles (four solo).
ANALYSIS
The rookie second-round pick mostly contributed on special teams through the first half of the regular season, but he was shelved in late November for the rest of the 2024 campaign due to a hamstring injury. He was able to progress enough in his recovery for his 21-day practice window to open Jan. 9, and it's unclear whether he would've been healthy enough to play in the NFC Championship game if the Lions had advanced that far. Rakestraw will compete with Carlton Davis, Amik Robertson and fellow rookie Terrion Arnold for the starting outside corner job for the 2025 campaign.
Jan 18, 2025
Not returning for divisional round
Rakestraw (hamstring/illness) has been ruled out for Saturday's NFC divisional-round matchup against Washington.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw was designated to return from IR on Jan. 9 but sat out the first two practices of this week. He did manage to log a limited practice Thursday but isn't ready to return to action Saturday. It's unclear if Rakestraw's sparse practice participation this week was due more to the hamstring issue or the illness he's also dealing with. Regardless, he'll look to return for next weekend's NFC Championship Game if the Lions advance.
Jan 16, 2025
Questionable to face Washington
Rakestraw (hamstring/illness) is listed as questionable for Saturday's NFC divisional-round game against the Commanders, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw has been on injured reserve since late November due to a hamstring injury. He was designated to return from IR on Tuesday, but he finished the week with a DNP/DNP/LP practice log. The Lions would have to active Rakestraw from IR in order for the rookie corner to play Saturday.
Jan 14, 2025
Doesn't practice after return from IR
Rakestraw (hamstring/illness) was a non-participant in practice Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw landed on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury in late November and hasn't played since. He had his practice window opened last Thursday during the Lions' off week (the team had a first-round playoff bye), but he wasn't able to participate in Detroit's first official practice since he was designated to return. It's important to note, however, that Rakestraw is currently dealing with an illness, and that may have been more responsible than the hamstring issue for his absence from practice Tuesday.
Jan 9, 2025
Designated to return from IR
The Lions designated Rakestraw (hamstring) to return from injured reserve Thursday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw was placed on injured reserve in late November due to a hamstring injury. He's progressed enough in his recovery to return to practice, and depending on how his hamstring responds to on-field work, Rakestraw could be activated off IR and play in the Lions' divisional-round game. The rookie second-round pick logged six tackles (four solo) across eight regular-season games.
Nov 24, 2024
Placed on injured reserve
The Lions placed Rakestraw (hamstring) on injured reserve Saturday.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw suffered a hamstring injury during practice this week, which is serious enough to warrant a multi-week absence. He'll be forced to miss at least the next four regular-season games, making Week 16 against the Bears on Sunday, Dec. 22 the earliest he could return. With Rakestraw on IR and Terrion Arnold (groin) ruled out for Sunday's game against the Colts, Khalil Dorsey and Kindle Vildor are candidates to start at corner opposite Carlton Davis.
Nov 22, 2024
Won't play Sunday
Rakestraw (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Colts.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw appears to have sustained a hamstring injury in practice this week, as he was a late addition to the Lions' injury report and logged a DNP on Friday. The issue is serious enough that he's already been ruled out for Sunday's matchup, paving the way for Kindle Vildor to see increased work as one of the Lions' top backup corners.
Sep 30, 2024
Back in action
Rakestraw (hamstring) is active for Monday's contest against the Seahawks.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw will make his return to the field after missing the team's last two contests. The 22-year-old will be back in his role as a depth option at cornerback behind Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold versus Seattle.
Sep 20, 2024
Won't play Week 3
Rakestraw (hamstring) has been ruled out of Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw wasn't able to practice all week due to a hamstring injury, and he'll have to wait until Week 4 against the Seahawks for his next chance to suit up. Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey will serve as the Lions' backups at corner behind starters Carlton Davis and Terrion Arnold (illness).
Sep 15, 2024
Won't play Sunday
Rakestraw (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Buccaneers.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw's absence from the active roster for Week 2 comes as a bit of a surprise, with the 2024 second-round selection expected to be an important depth piece of the Lions' retooled secondary this season. However, the Missouri product did play just three snaps on defense in their Week 1 win over the Rams and may need more development time to carve out a more consistent role.
Aug 20, 2024
Returns to practice
Rakestraw (ankle) participated in Tuesday's practice session, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw was forced to sit out of Lions' second preseason game against the Chiefs on Saturday due to an ankle injury he sustained in the week leading up to the contest. He appears to have healed from the injury, and the rookie second-round pick will participate in practices ahead of Saturday's preseason finale against Pittsburgh.
Aug 12, 2024
Suffers ankle injury
Rakestraw had to leave practice early Monday after sustaining an ankle injury, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Rakestraw secured two total tackles while playing 37 snaps with the defensive unit and 11 with special teams in Thursday's 14-3 loss to the Giants. It's unclear what the severity of the ankle injury he suffered Monday is, but more information on his status will likely be provided in the near future.
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