The injury hits are already coming early and often for the Detroit Lions, a team that was ravaged by significant injuries in 2024.
First, we found out that defensive lineman Levi Onwuzurike has been ruled out for the entire 2025 campaign due to an ACL injury.
Then, the Lions took the practice field for their very first session of training camp and saw second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. leave early. He is being evaluated for a chest injury, Detroit Football Network's Justin Rogers reported.
According to Nolan Bianchi of The Detroit News, Rakestraw collided with a receiver during 11-on-11 drills and was subsequently brought to the locker room after he was initially checked out on the sideline.
A second-round pick of the Lions in 2024, Rakestraw's first season in the NFL was marred by injury, which led to him appearing in just eight games.
Ahead of training camp, the Lions revealed Rakestraw would be getting reps on the boundary, which is a deviation from last year's plan that Rakestraw said included a job in the slot.
"A lot of people didn't know that," Rakestraw said of the 2024 plan. "I got hurt in warm-ups. So, it was kind of setback and step back."
The Lions are currently slated to start Terrion Arnold and free-agent signing D.J. Reed on the outside, with Amik Robertson expected to return to the slot. That leaves Rakestraw battling for a top reserve role.
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