Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell provided a series of encouraging injury updates during a Monday afternoon press conference, signaling that two key contributors, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and rookie cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, are likely to avoid extended absences. Following a physical divisional matchup against the Green Bay Packers, the Lions are carefully managing the workloads of their roster as they pivot toward the next week of play.
Campbell indicated that while both St. Brown and Rakestraw are expected to be sidelined for the team’s upcoming Wednesday practice session, the current internal timeline sees them returning to the field shortly thereafter. The coach characterized the decision as part of a plan to ensure they are ready for full activity by the end of the week.
“He and Ennis, I think those guys will probably sit Wednesday, but the plan is to get them going Thursday, and I think that they’ll be fine. They should be good,” Campbell told reporters. While the coach added a brief caveat that the team will re-evaluate the situation once they reach the Thursday session, his overall tone remained optimistic regarding their availability.
The update on St. Brown is particularly vital for a Detroit offense that leaned heavily on him during the win over Green Bay. St. Brown is coming off one of the most productive outings of his career, hauling in nine receptions for 153 yards. That yardage total represents the fifth-highest single-game mark of his professional tenure. While Campbell acknowledged that missing a player of St. Brown’s caliber would be a significant blow to the lineup, he did not appear concerned about a long-term setback.
On the defensive side of the ball, the news regarding Ennis Rakestraw was equally positive despite his early exit from the last game. Rakestraw suffered an ankle injury, but Campbell was quick to downplay the severity of the issue on Monday. “It’s not major, he’s got a little ankle here,” Campbell said. “We feel like, as of right now, he’ll be at practice on Thursday. That’s kind of what we’re looking at. But we don’t feel like it’s major as of today.”
Before his injury, Rakestraw was part of a massive defensive rotation in the secondary. The Lions utilized five different cornerbacks against the Packers, a strategy Campbell said was inspired by how the Dallas Cowboys previously attacked Green Bay to maintain defensive freshness. Rakestraw recorded 21 snaps before his injury, sharing time with D.J. Reed, who played 61 snaps, and Roger McCreary, who led the unit with 67. The rotation also featured Rock Ya-Sin and Khalil Dorsey, who each saw 14 snaps.
Campbell indicated that this rotational approach is something the coaching staff will continue to consider moving forward, noting the benefits of using different players in specialized packages. “I think there was also merit for a number of those guys’ plays,” Campbell noted. “Letting them all kind of play, getting some reps and using them in different situations, different packages.”
By managing the practice reps for St. Brown and Rakestraw early in the week, the Lions hope to maintain the health of their core contributors while continuing to develop the depth of their secondary rotation.
