Detroit’s Cornerback Depth Tested with Rakestraw’s Absence as Moseley Eyes Debut
The Detroit Lions’ defense is about to face another challenge as rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw has officially been ruled out for Week 12. With a hamstring injury sidelining him, Rakestraw’s absence leaves a gap in the secondary, forcing the Lions to look for alternatives ahead of their upcoming showdown with the Indianapolis Colts.
Rakestraw’s Injury Paves the Way for Moseley’s Potential Debut
Rakestraw, who has shown flashes of promise during his rookie season, will miss his first game after dealing with injuries earlier this year. Listed on the injury report with a hamstring issue, the young defensive back will not participate in Sunday’s critical matchup, leading to speculation that veteran Emmanuel Moseley might be called upon for his season debut. Moseley, who is recovering from his own injury struggles, was also listed as questionable but could step in to fill the void left by Rakestraw.
Rakestraw’s unfortunate absence only adds to the long list of injury concerns for the Lions’ secondary, which has been tested throughout the season. With Moseley potentially making his long-awaited debut, the Lions hope his experience can bring stability to a defense already working to replace multiple key contributors.
Terrion Arnold Faces Ongoing Growing Pains
Meanwhile, rookie Terrion Arnold is listed as questionable for the game. Though he participated in practice on Friday, his status remains uncertain. Arnold has faced ups and downs in his first NFL season, notably drawing several pass interference penalties. Despite this, his confidence remains unshaken. Head coach Dan Campbell has praised Arnold’s ability to quickly move past negative plays, an essential quality for cornerbacks in the league.
Campbell explained, “Well, I think what – yeah, however you want to cut it, he’s pretty good about putting things behind him, negative plays behind him, going to the next one, and you have to be able to do that at the cornerback position. I think he can put it back, go to the next play, learn from what just happened and continue to play. I mean, that’s what we talk about all the time, just go in there and compete again. Compete for the next play and the next play, and he’s done that. For a young guy, that’s important.”
Arnold’s continued improvement is a positive sign for the future, but with the injury troubles mounting, the Lions will be hoping that their cornerbacks can rise to the occasion and step up in what could be a pivotal game for the team.
As the Lions prepare for their Week 12 clash with the Colts, the team’s depth at cornerback will be tested like never before. With Rakestraw out, Moseley potentially making his debut, and Arnold battling through his own challenges, the secondary’s resilience will be critical to the Lions’ success this week.
