The injury situation for the Detroit Lions is becoming increasingly concerning as they face yet another setback. Just a week after placing their starting cornerback, D.J. Reed, on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, the team has received more bad news regarding another key player. On Monday, head coach Dan Campbell revealed that Terrion Arnold has suffered a serious shoulder injury during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals, which is expected to sideline him for an extended period.
Campbell stated candidly, "He’s going to be out for a while. He’s going to be out for a long time." When pressed about whether this injury would end Arnold’s season prematurely, Campbell admitted he wasn’t sure yet but stressed that the recovery will take considerable time.
This injury is particularly disappointing for Arnold, who has faced challenges throughout the early stages of his professional career. After a season marked by excessive penalties during his rookie year, Arnold entered 2025 with a wealth of optimism stemming from a strong training camp. Although he encountered difficulties in his initial games, Campbell noted his impressive performance against the Bengals. "He was very competitive. I thought he was calm. I thought he was cool, and I thought this was one of the better games he’s played in a while. I thought he was really good," Campbell remarked, highlighting Arnold's potential.
The Lions' cornerback situation has been tumultuous this year. Before the season even commenced, their second-round draft pick, Ennis Rakestraw, was sidelined for the entire year due to an injury. Reed's absence will extend for at least three more games, and reserve cornerback Khalil Dorsey is also on the shelf with a wrist injury, which leaves the Lions severely depleted in this crucial position. In the face of these challenges, the team has recently bolstered its ranks by signing Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to the practice squad. Nonetheless, they still have viable options available in Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox, who will need to step up amid this adversity.
But this raises an important question: how will the Lions adjust their strategies moving forward, and can they find a way to maintain competitiveness in such a critical area of their defense? As fans of the game, how do you think the Lions should handle this situation? Is their current depth enough to weather the storm? Join the conversation in the comments!