The Detroit Lions will be shorthanded during Thursday’s Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in Allen Park, as head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that two cornerbacks will be sidelined due to illness.
Speaking with reporters before practice, Campbell announced that both Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Rock Ya-Sin will not participate after being affected by an illness that has reportedly spread throughout the Lions’ facility.
Lions Dealing With Illness During OTAs
According to Campbell, a bug has been making its way through the team headquarters, leading to the absence of multiple players. Fortunately, neither Rakestraw nor Ya-Sin is dealing with an injury, and the Lions do not expect the situation to become a long-term concern.
While missing a single OTA practice in June is not considered significant, Detroit would prefer to have its full roster available as preparations for the 2026 NFL season continue.
Important Offseason for Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Thursday’s absence is particularly notable for Rakestraw, who enters a pivotal season in his young NFL career.
The former Missouri standout has battled injuries throughout his first two seasons with the Lions, limiting his opportunities to establish himself in Detroit’s defense. The organization remains hopeful that Rakestraw can stay healthy and develop into the player they envisioned when selecting him in the NFL Draft.
Every practice rep is valuable for the young cornerback as he looks to overcome an injury-plagued start and earn a larger role in the Lions’ secondary heading into the upcoming season.
Lions Secondary Continues Building Toward 2026
Detroit’s coaching staff is focused on developing depth and competition throughout the roster during OTAs, making player availability important even during voluntary offseason workouts.
Although Rakestraw and Ya-Sin will miss Thursday’s session, the Lions expect both cornerbacks to return in the near future once they recover from the illness.
For now, Detroit remains focused on maintaining momentum through the offseason program as the team prepares for another highly anticipated campaign in 2026. :::
