
Dan Campbell Devastated by Young Cornerback’s Latest Injury Setback
The Detroit Lions are facing another blow as they prepare for their second preseason matchup of the fall, set to take place in Atlanta against the Falcons this Friday. Already planning to rest several starters to keep them fresh for the regular season, the Lions have now lost a young defender to a troubling new injury.
Head coach Dan Campbell, who spent years as an NFL player himself, was visibly emotional when addressing the latest setback for second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw. The former second-round pick had already been dealing with a chest issue, and now a shoulder injury could sideline him for much longer than expected.
Rakestraw went down during the early portion of Sunday’s training camp session, reportedly sustaining the injury during his very first rep of one-on-one tackling drills. According to Jeremy Reisman of Pride of Detroit, the corner fell hard on his shoulder while trying to bring down wide receiver Tom Kennedy. The severity of the fall immediately caught the attention of the Lions’ medical team, and Rakestraw did not return to the field.
Campbell’s reaction to the injury suggests the situation is serious. While he didn’t offer specific details, his somber tone and statement that more information would be revealed “in due time” indicates that this could be a long-term issue.
Rakestraw had high hopes for a breakout second season after appearing in just eight games and tallying six tackles during his rookie year. This preseason was expected to be his stepping stone to a more significant role in the Lions’ secondary. Unfortunately, those plans are now in limbo as the team awaits further evaluation of the injury.
While it’s common for coaches to remain cautious with their words after injuries, Campbell’s emotional response hints at just how tough this setback is for both Rakestraw and the team.