After a disappointing first season in the NFL, Detroit Lions 2024 second-round pick and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. revealed the original plan for his rookie season was to play in the slot.
"A lot of people didn't know that," Rakestraw said of the plan for him to play in the slot. "I got hurt in warm-ups. So, it was kind of setback and step back."
Rakestraw missed two games early in the season and saw Amik Robertson take the slot role after that, and the veteran never relinquished it. Meanwhile, the rookie didn't see the field much over the next seven contests.
The Missouri product then wasn't able to suit up for the remainder of the games from Week 12 on thanks to injury, which makes his second season in the NFL crucial for the future of his career.
While the Lions might have envisioned Rakestraw playing the slot in 2024, it looks as though plans have changed this year, at least for now.
On Thursday, Lions defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend told reporters that the team is going to have Rakestraw Jr. focus on playing on the outside as opposed to in the slot.
"Lions DB coach Deshea Townsend said they're going to let Ennis Rakestraw focus on playing outside cornerback to start his second season," Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network reported.
This is interesting, to say the least.
The assumption has been that Terrion Arnold and free-agent acquisition D.J. Reed would start on the outside in 2025, and that Amik Robertson and Rakestraw would battle it out for the slot job.
Assuming there is no plan to move Reed or Arnold to the outside, this means that the sophomore cornerback is in line to play a backup role entering his second season.
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