The Detroit Lions got their first taste of live action in a game setting Thursday night in the sloppy conditions at MetLife Stadium against the New York Giants in the preseason opener.
The Lions rested most of their expected starters for the regular season to avoid an unnecessary injury and give ample opportunity to young players or those engaged in a position battle or positioned deeper on the depth chart in the 14-3 loss to the Giants.
The product on the field Thursday night wasn’t the prettiest as the Lions only mustered three points, but it also “wasn’t awful” as head coach Dan Campbell put it on the TV broadcast. This gave the staff a chance to see the Lions’ depth pieces and rookies in different game situations, and test out new strategies, including with the NFL’s new kickoff rules.
Here are a few players that stood out, both in a good and bad way, for the Lions last night in the exhibition action.
Winners
CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
The hope for rookies in the preseason is they fit their pre-draft billing. First- and second-round cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. did their jobs last night starting against the Giants’ second-team offense led by quarterback Drew Lock. (Starter Carlton Davis III did not suit up.) Arnold played the first three series, and did not see any action in a quiet night for him.
Rakestraw played longer into the first quarter and recorded three tackles. He showed a knack for handling himself against speedy receivers in man coverage, and was able to finish a tackle.
Another example: Lock shouldn’t have thrown this ball into double coverage in the first place, but Rakestraw was all over Isaiah Hodgins’ post route at the top, and it ends in an easy interception for safety Brandon Joseph.
S Brandon Joseph and the pass defense
Brandon Joseph started at safety with Kerby Joseph getting the night off. He created the Lions’ only points with his first-quarter interception, showing good instincts to jump the route, knocked down another pass and had three solo tackles while fitting against the run in the box early.
