Lions camp observations: Rakestraw exits with injury, Ya-Sin pops, a new drill, and Ratledge still repping at center

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Allen Park — The Detroit Lions opened training camp Sunday morning. Here are some notes and observations from that practice.

● Camp opened on a somber note Sunday morning when coach Dan Campbell announced Levi Onwuzurike’s season is over before it started due to a torn ACL. Predictably, rookie Tyleik Williams moves up the depth chart and is taking first-team reps alongside DJ Reader on the inside of the front.

The injury bug took another bite during practice when second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw went down following a midfield collision. He came up clutching his shoulder area, and the team reported after practice that the young defender is being evaluated for a chest injury.

We should have more clarity on Rakestraw in the coming days, potentially as soon as tomorrow. In the worst-case scenario, where it’s something serious, it would be a blow to Detroit’s depth. He entered camp projected to be the top backup on the outside, behind starters Terrion Arnold and DJ Reed.

● Obviously, it’s best to let that situation play out. Regardless, it was encouraging to see veteran Rock Ya-Sin have a productive first practice. The former second-round pick, now journeyman, is preparing to play for his fifth team in five seasons. Logging work with the second-team defense, the veteran corner showed good movement skills, flying up to make a quick stop on a throw to the flat before sticking in the back pocket of rookie Isaac TeSlass on a deep ball, resulting in an incompletion.

Ya-Sin drew praise from coaches after those back-to-back plays.

● Outside of the group that landed on injured lists earlier this week, the Lions were only down a handful of players for the inaugural camp session. Defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad and linebackers Alex Anzalone and Anthony Pittman sat out the session with what Campbell described as minor injuries.

● Not surprisingly, the Lions were aggressively rotating through a number of offensive line combinations. The first grouping saw rookie Tate Ratledge at center, Graham Glasgow at right guard, and Christian Mahogany at left guard.

Additionally, Dan Skipper is filling in as the first-team left tackle while Taylor Decker works his way back from a minor shoulder cleanup procedure that landed the blindside blocker on PUP to open camp.

● Also temporarily stepping into starting reps was veteran linebacker Zach Cunningham. The former second-round pick is entering his ninth season. He backfilled Anzalone’s spot in the lineup and had a nice play, picking up running back David Montgomery in the flat for a quick stop on a play-action play.

● Kyle Allen looks like he’s going to be a clear upgrade to the backup QB competition. The veteran made some nice throws today, including stepping up in the pocket for a downfield completion to rookie receiver Jackson Meeks, and threading a screen pass to running back Craig Reynolds under the arms of hard-charging Pat O’Connor off the right edge.

I still have no reason to believe it’s not quarterback Hendon Hooker’s job to lose, but Allen should push the young QB in a way that makes him better.

● New dad Jared Goff comically showed off his wheels on a broken play, taking a lane up the middle when pressured in the pocket before sprinting 40 yards to the end zone. Goff even feigned a stiff arm on the last man between him and the end zone, safety Kerby Joseph.

No, this isn’t a new part of Goff’s game. If there’s a takeaway, it’s that the veteran QB is willing to give maximum effort running out a play until the whistle like he’s an undrafted rookie running back trying to win a practice squad job. Running to the end zone is common for backs and receivers, not quarterbacks, and certainly not veteran passers who live in the pocket.

In terms of his arm, Goff had a really nice throw deep down the middle to Tim Patrick. The QB stepped up to beat outside pressure and feathered a ball just over the outstretched reach of nickel corner Amik Robertson.

● Amon-Ra St. Brown’s route running is already in midseason form. The All-Pro receiver proved to be a handful for Reed, beating Detroit’s starting cornerback on multiple routes, including a deep dig and a 12-yard comeback. There aren’t many guys who squeeze more out of their talent than St. Brown.

● The sidelines felt a little muted for the morning practice. One of the loudest moments was when rookie safety Ian Kennelly fired downhill for a PBU on a deeper throw across the middle.

● It’s clear Mahogany can’t wait to get on pads. The second-year lineman got a little overexuberant on a screen pass to Jahmyr Gibbs, aggressively putting linebacker Derrick Barnes on the ground with a block.

● The best pass-rush snap I saw was Mitchell Agude dipping underneath veteran JaMarco Jones before getting his hands into the passing lane to knock down a throw behind the line.

● The Lions introduced a new, competitive drill. It saw five defense players perform a set number of up-downs before turning and sprinting for one of four footballs on the ground 20 yards down the field. The odd player who didn’t end up with one of the balls was forced to do an additional set of up-downs.