The Detroit Lions have officially wrapped up their OTA program, completing nine offseason practice sessions spread across three weeks. Naturally, the head coach has a fair understanding of where the team stands by now, with some key updates for the 2026 season.

With mandatory minicamp now the final stop before players break for the summer, attention is already beginning to shift toward training camp and the 2026 season. In light of this, HC Dan Campbell offered several notable updates on the team's progress.

1. Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is on Track

Ennis Rakestraw Jr.'s NFL journey has hardly gone according to plan so far. The Lions' 2024 second-round pick has been plagued by setbacks. However, there finally appears to be light at the end of the tunnel.

"He's had a good spring. He's been out there every day," Campbell revealed about Rakestraw Jr's form. "I think he had a lot of time to really not only rehab but work back there with coach (Josh) Schuler and Mike Clark when they were here.

Campbell further went on to reveal how the cornerback now has a new physique.

"He's added a little bit of bulk," the head coach added. "That's always going to help the body...There's nothing that would tell me that he won't be prepared and physically prepared to go into training camp now."

From a lingering hamstring issue during his rookie campaign to a shoulder injury that required surgery and wiped out his entire 2025 season. Hopefully, 2026 will be a turning point for the 24-year-old.

2. Rock Ya-Sin misses Practice

Initially, in the conference, Dan Campbell mentioned a bug that has been going around. Unfortunately, Rakestraw Jr. wasn't the only one who'd caught it.

Campbell also noted that veteran Rock Ya-Sin caught the injury bug during practice sessions, adding another wrinkle to Detroit's secondary heading into the summer.

That places even more focus on the former second-round pick as he enters his second season with the Lions. Despite making just six starts last year, he flashed his potential by breaking up nine passes.

3. D.J. Wonnum Has Not Missed a Day

D.J. Wonnum's path to Detroit has not been an easy one. After spending the last two seasons in Carolina, the pass rusher missed most of his first year with the Carolina Panthers while recovering from the torn quadriceps he suffered on Christmas Eve 2023.

This was a devastating non-contact injury that prematurely ended his final season in Minnesota.

Dan Campbell recently revealed that Wonnum has not missed a single day of practice, an encouraging sign for a player who just signed a one-year deal with the Lions.

4. Ben Bartch Expected to be Ready for Training Camp

Dan Campbell's latest update offered encouraging news on Ben Bartch, revealing that the offensive lineman is expected to be ready for training camp.

After his 2024 season was cut short by injury, the Lions have taken a cautious approach throughout OTAs, but the outlook now appears positive.

Signed by the Lions in March, the veteran is still waiting to make his first appearance. In fact, Bartch has not played more than eight games in a season since 2023.

5. Brian Branch Could Return Before December

Branch remains one of the Lions' most important defensive pieces, which is why Campbell's latest update will be welcomed across Detroit.

While the head coach declined to put a firm timetable on the safety's return from a torn Achilles, he emphasized that the rehabilitation process has gone smoothly with no setbacks, leaving the door open for a return earlier than some might expect.

Still, the coach joked about answering questions next in December so that there was no pressure on the player to return early.

Branch has become a cornerstone of the defense since arriving as a second-round pick in 2023. So far, he's already piled up 258 tackles, seven interceptions, and 4.5 sacks.

As the Lions head into minicamp and eventually training camp, Campbell's latest updates suggest the team is emerging from the offseason in encouraging shape.

The real tests are still ahead, but for now, the early signs coming out of Motor City are largely looking good.

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Written by

Aadesh Dhote

Edited by

Rudra Dubey