A couple Lions rookies stepped into the light in NFL debuts. Their head coach took notice

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – One came through the draft, a second-round pick, a cornerback selected to help improve the weakest part of the defense, understanding he’d have relative security and a reasonable shot at playing time.  

The other came through free agency after not getting drafted. A flier, so to speak, though a flier with a touch of buzz.  

A receiver whose best skill was a duplicate of someone on the team who does it as well as anyone in the NFL. Still, someone hoping for at least a shot to make the team, given the Lions’ recent history of putting undrafted free agents on the roster.  

Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell don’t bring anyone to Allen Park without the thought that anything is possible. And so, whoever arrives in Allen Park must also believe anything is possible. It’s the team’s unofficial motto, along with “Grit,” “Salty,” and “Man.” 

As in: Hey, man, Isaiah Williams believes, and almost certainly believes a little more now after his debut Thursday night at MetLife Stadium. He caught four passes. Showed quickness in space. Earned a shoutout from his head coach on the podium after the game ... unprompted.  

But let’s get back to the cornerback for a moment. We started with him, and structure and flow matter.  

Ennis Rakestraw Jr., the second-round corner, has made plays all camp, mostly inside at the nickel spot, but outside, too. This was expected. Or at least – hoped for.  

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And while the cornerback from Missouri had to figure he would make the team; this doesn’t mean he could count on playing time. Thursday night was his first chance to show what he could do in a “live” situation; he started on the outside opposite fellow rookie cornerback, Terrion Arnold – Amik Robertson started in the nickel spot. 

Early in the game, on third down, Rakestraw got beat inside on a crossing route a few yards deep by Jalin Hyatt. The rookie stayed with him, though, a grinder in motion – he later said he had to earn everything as a youngster – and never let Hyatt turn up field, forcing him out of bounds well short of the first-down marker. 

Rakestraw ran so hard he hit the field goal practice netting on the sideline. Didn’t feel too good, he said. The hype from the vets nearby helped. He also swarmed Malik Nabers, the Giants' gifted rookie receiver, not giving up a completion.  

“A lot more details I need to focus on,” Rakestraw said. “I made some good plays. I made some bad plays. You can always go back the next day and get better.” 

Spoken like a coach. Speaking of coaches, his head coach gave him a shoutout after the game, as well, also unprompted. Well, not entirely unprompted. Campbell was asked who stood out after the 14-3 preseason loss to the Giants.  

And after mentioning a handful of players trying to make the team, he paused, as if he didn’t want to forget to include Rakestraw: 

“Ennis had a good showing. He got a lot of reps. I thought they were valuable reps.” 

And what did Rakestraw think of his first action in an NFL stadium? 

“It felt good,” he said. “Football for me was something I've dreamed about my whole life. Once I saw the stadium and (saw) the stage is set ... that’s what I've been doing.” 

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In other words, that’s who he is.  

He was also ready, he said, because “I wasn’t fortunate to have a lot of things so just had to do a lot of things on my own. I've been grinding my whole life. That's how I was raised.” 

Rakestraw’s tale isn’t unique, nor is it the only motivator for purpose. Williams is as driven as Rakestraw, but his chip comes from his size, or lack of it. And from his speed ... well, or lack of that, too. 

Speed is relative, of course. His 4.6 40-yard dash last winter after playing at Illinois almost certainly hurt his chances at being drafted. Scouts and front office types love measurables. And while 4.6 isn’t a deal breaker for playing receiver in the NFL, 4.6 is tougher to overcome when you stand at 5 feet 10 and 185 pounds. 

At the least, it’s harder to overcome perceptions.  

Williams had interest from almost two-thirds of the teams in the league as an undrafted free agent. The Lions got him by guaranteeing $240,000 of his contract and by offering a good psychological fit. You know, grit and all.  

And while he knew the “slot” receiver room was relatively full, it helped that those receivers were his heroes. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Kalif Raymond are similar sized and, Williams likes to think, of similar mind and determination, and he figured he could learn from them. Raymond, especially, has taken time with Williams.  

He’s shared his thoughts on how to be a pro, how to survive OTAs, training camp, how to approach preseason games. 

Williams asked questions. Raymond gave him answers. 

“Everything he told me” Williams said after Thursday’s game, “It paid off.” 

The last advice he gave Williams was right before the preseason game. 

“I’m going to give you one thing today, bro," Raymond told him. “Run every single route like you are going to get the ball.” 

Simple? Maybe. Still, it’s nice to hear. Helps a player focus with all those nerves.  

And so, Williams did. He listened. Not that he isn’t wired that way anyway. You play football at his size in the Big Ten, and in the NFL, you’ve got to be wired that way.  

Williams knew that even if he didn’t get the ball, showing effort on every route – or blocking assignment – would show up on tape. He also knew that knowing the route tree and play book would show up on film. 

After the jitters subsided when the game started, he told himself: 

“I’m going to be in the right place at the right time, and if I get the ball, I get the ball. But coaches are going to see that I'm in the right place. Then I'm going to make a play from there (if I get the chance.)” 

It worked. Williams was the first player Campbell mentioned after the game. 

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“Isaiah Williams showed up,” he said. “He made some plays out there. That was clear. That was clear to see.” 

Finding clarity is what training camp and preseason are all about, right? Players are jostling to be seen. Coaches are looking to see.  

Last week on a rainy night in New Jersey, a couple of rookies stepped onto their first big league football field and made the decision makers take notice. They’d taken different paths to that moment, and carried different expectations, from their coaches, of themselves. 

But when the ball was snapped, one ran every route as if the pass were coming to him, and one ran so intently he blasted into equipment on the sideline. In that way, they were the same.  

Contact Shawn Windsor: swindsor@freepress.com. Follow him@shawnwindsor.

Next up: Chiefs

Matchup: Lions (12-5 in 2023) at Kansas City Chiefs (11-6 in 2023), exhibition.

Kickoff: 4 p.m., Aug. 17; GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

TV/radio: WJBK-TV (Fox 2 in Detroit); WXYT-FM (97.1).

Regular-season opener: Sept. 8 vs. Rams, Ford Field, NBC.