Lions Cornerbacks Facing Injury Crisis Ahead of Key Matchups

DETROIT, Mich. — The Detroit Lions are grappling with a significant shortage at cornerback as they prepare for upcoming games. On Monday, head coach Dan Campbell announced that second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold will be sidelined for an extended period due to a shoulder injury sustained during a recent victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Arnold left the game in the second half and was carted off the field. Campbell confirmed that Arnold will be out ‘for a long time,’ although he did not specify whether the injury would end Arnold’s season. ‘I don’t know that,’ Campbell said. ‘But it’ll be a while.’

This setback comes just a week after the Lions placed starting cornerback D.J. Reed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Reed is expected to miss at least four games, creating a challenging situation for the team.

Arnold, 22, joined the Lions as the 24th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft after a standout career at Alabama. He had shown promise early this season and had a solid performance against the Bengals, recording a tackle and two passes defended prior to his injury. ‘He was very competitive. I thought he was calm and cool,’ Campbell commented about Arnold’s play on Sunday. ‘I thought this was one of the better games he’s played in a while.’

In addition to Arnold and Reed, backup cornerback Khalil Dorsey is also dealing with a wrist injury and concussion, rendering him unavailable for an undisclosed length of time.

With the injury list growing, the Lions’ coaching staff is now looking at their remaining healthy options, which include Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox. The Lions recently added Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside to their practice squad, potentially hoping to bolster their secondary.

‘This train doesn’t stop for anybody,’ Campbell remarked regarding the team’s need to adapt. ‘Nobody cares, nobody feels sorry for you.’

The Lions are left with their ‘next man up’ strategy as they navigate through these injury challenges, hoping to maintain their performance in the rest of the regular season.