Lions 2026 Training Camp Medical Preview: Cornerbacks
Can the veteran CB's stay healthy and the young CB's step up?
Detroit Lions training camp opens on July 25 for the rookies and July 28 for the veterans. I’m kicking off the training camp medical preview with the cornerback position, due to the recent turmoil presented by the release of Terrion Arnold.
While the CB depth is certainly impacted by Arnold’s loss, the starter performance might actually see an improvement from last year. DJ Reed is healthy now, and Rock Ya-Sin, to my eyes, performed the best of all the Lions CB’s last season.
Behind those two proven, but aging, veterans is a whole bunch of youth and potential. The Lions really need a couple of them to pan out for this season and beyond. Paging Mr. Rakestraw…
Here are the Lions’ cornerbacks along with their updated medical concern levels heading into training camp.
🟢0-3 Low medical concern
🟡4-6 Moderate medical concern
🔴7-10 High medical concern
Click on player name for full medical report if available. (Age at start of season in parentheses.)
PROJECTED STARTERS
🟡DJ Reed (29)
Medical concern level: 4/10
Reed missed six games in the middle of the season due to a left hamstring strain. He returned for the final seven games.
Down the stretch, here were Reed’s snap counts.
Week 14 - 72%
Week 15 - 91%
Week 16 - 98%
Week 17 - 60%
OUTLOOK: Reed is healthy and enters as the clear #1 CB. A hamstring recurrence is possible, so the Lions will want to be careful during training camp.
🟢Rock Ya-Sin (30)
Medical concern level: 2/10
Ya-Sin was truly a rock in 2025, having played in all 17 games. He suffered cramps on multiple occasions, but was otherwise healthy. The only concern medically is his age, which has crossed over 30.
These were Ya-Sin’s defensive snap counts the final four games of the season
Week 14 - 89%
Week 15 - 97%
Week 16 - 98%
Week 17 - 96%
These snap counts were the highest of any Lion CB, including Reed. Ya-Sin basically had become the Lions #1 CB by the end of the season.
OUTLOOK: With his proven performance from last season, Ya-Sin likely gets a starting CB job. This knowledge probably helps him get his cramping issues under control as he can get his body properly prepared.
🟢Keith Abney (21)
Medical concern level: 0/10
This 5th-round rookie is very medically clean with only a possible minor hand injury in his college career.
OUTLOOK: Many considered Abney to be a steal in the draft. We’ll see about that, but hopes are certainly high that this extremely young player can be a long-term solution somewhere in the secondary.
Given his youth, health, and cheap 4-year contract, the Lions will give Abney every chance to earn a significant role - likely as the slot CB.
PROJECTED BACKUPS
🟡Ennis Rakestraw (24)
Medical concern level: 6/10
This 3rd-year CB carries the highest medical concern of the group, having missed last season with shoulder surgery and most of the prior season with hamstrings. He also has a core muscle surgery and ACL in his past.
While his history is concerning, he is still youthful at age 24.
OUTLOOK: Rakestraw is currently healthy and now has added some bulk. It will help out the Lions’ defense tremendously if he can stay healthy and live up to his 2nd-round status.
It will help out Lions’ fans mental health if Rakestraw can erase the memory of the disastrous 1st-round selection (Terrion Arnold) from his class. While it seems unlikely he’ll beat out Ya-Sin for a starting outside CB job, that would be the ideal outcome for the Lions long-term.
🟢Roger McCreary (26)
Medical concern level: 2/10
This free agent signing went on IR temporarily last year with a groin/hip injury. Overall, his medical concern level is low and his age is excellent.
OUTLOOK: This young, healthy addition adds reliability to the CB room. He should compete for the starting nickel role.
🟢Khalil Dorsey (28)
Medical concern level: 2/10
Dorsey suffered a concussion and wrist injury last season that caused six missed games. The year prior, he had a tib/fib fracture which he has fully recovered from.
OUTLOOK: Dorsey enters the season healthy. His age is starting to creep up, but he has low mileage and a lot of experience with the team.
🟡Nick Whiteside (26)
Medical concern level: 4/10
Whiteside has a reported history of an Achilles rupture and foot fracture. Last season with the Lions, he was healthy and appeared in nine games.
OUTLOOK: This young player has a chance to be a surprise factor in the secondary.
🟢De'Shawn Rucker (23)
Medical concern level: 0/10
This UDFA finished college in good health.
OUTLOOK: Rucker is a former track star who has a high ceiling due to his speed.
🟢Aamaris Brown (24)
Medical concern level: 0/10
Thus UDFA was pretty medically clean throughout college, but his age is high for a rookie.
OUTLOOK: At 5’10”, 190 lb, Brown might be a good contender for the nickel job. The Lions also appear to be giving him a shot at safety.