Detroit Lions rookie minicamp observations: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. has a light load in debut
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. opened his first Detroit Lions rookie minicamp practice at slot cornerback and finished it on the sideline.
Rakestraw, the Lions' second-round pick out of Missouri, said the team held him out of the end of practice Friday for precautionary reasons as part of a predetermined snap count.
"That’s just the plan they already had set for me," Rakestraw said. "I was trying to go, but they was like, 'Nah, you trying to exceed your reps we already had for you.' But what I got to do a great job of is sticking to the plan. They’ve been here, they’ve got a ton of experience and just keep it like that."
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Rakestraw underwent core muscle surgery at the end of his college season and told reporters after his pro day at Missouri he still was not 100%.
He said Friday the injury is no longer an issue.
"I feel fine from my injury, they just still want — I tell them I'm fine but they want to 100% know I’m fine so I’m going to stick to their plan moving forward," he said.
That plan includes playing both outside and slot cornerback, where he should compete for immediate playing time in the Lions' suddenly crowded secondary.
The Lions drafted cornerbacks Terrion Arnold (No. 24 overall) and Rakestraw (No. 61) with their first two picks, after trading for Carlton Davis III and signing Amik Robertson in free agency this offseason. The Lions also re-signed Emmanuel Moseley, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, and Kindle Vildor, who finished the year as a starter.
On Friday, Rakestraw played both cornerback positions, while Arnold stayed mostly on the outside.
"That’s how I played my freshman year as a starter, I started nickel and then I started at corner, so to me that’s just my home," Rakestraw said.
Asked if the Lions want him to play slot cornerback this fall, where Brian Branch returns as starter, Rakestraw said, "I mean, I started first day there so that’s probably big picture probably maybe, but it don’t matter where I play. I just want to play and be a part."
A sloppy start to camp
Friday's practice was a sloppy affair, which isn't unusual for a first practice of rookie camp.
The offense had to re-huddle several times during the pre-practice installation period when players lined up wrong, committed a procedure penalty or otherwise muffed the play call, and there were at least three fumbled center-quarterback exchanges.
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Grand Valley State quarterback Cade Peterson, who is at camp this week on a tryout basis, and Florida center Kingsley Eguakun, an undrafted free agent, were the battery combination for at least two of the fumbles.
The search for a backup center
The Lions had four players working snaps during pre-practice: Eguakun, Michael Niese, who spent most of last season on practice squad, and undrafted rookies Duke Clemens and Bryan Hudson.
I don't know that finding a backup center is a priority this offseason, given Graham Glasgow's versatility on the interior line, but there certainly could be a path to a roster spot for one of those players if they perform well when pads come on this summer given Frank Ragnow's persistent toe problems.
The lesser-known corners
J.J. Ross, a tryout cornerback for Western Illinois, intercepted a Peterson pass that was thrown slightly behind his intended receiver near the end of practice. Ross is listed at 6 feet 3 and 203 pounds and looked every bit as big on the field.
Harrison Hand, who has spent time with the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and New York Giants since entering the league as a fifth-round pick in 2020, worked opposite Arnold with the first-team defense when Rakestraw played inside and late in practice when he was on the sideline.
A special special teams look
Sione Vaki, the safety-turned running back from Utah who the Lions traded up to get in Round 4, had one fumble during install, but was easily the team's most impressive player during special teams drills.
I saw Vaki take three coverage reps when the Lions worked kick coverage and he ran by his would-be blocker on all three.
Asked his impressions on the new kick cover rules after practice, Vaki said, "I feel like it’s catered to my skill set. Just being closer to the box and things like that, being able to be explosive right off the bat. We’re only 5 yards away (from the blockers), so yeah, I don’t know. We’re going to watch this tape and see how good I did."
Vaki wasn't as solid in the lone rep I watched him as a blocker on kick return, but he should play a core role on special teams this fall.
I noted Kyler McMichael, a tryout cornerback from North Carolina, and undrafted rookie Morice Norris as other players who impressed in special teams drills.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions watching Rakestraw's practice reps in rookie minicamp
