Detroit Lions fans are unfortunately all too familiar with their seasons getting derailed due to defensive injuries. After finishing the regular season with 13 defenders on the injured reserve last season, the last thing the Lions want is this season heading towards a similar path. This time it's not the defensive line and the linebackers, but the defensive backfield instead.
The latest injury to the already short-handed cornerback rotation was Terrion Arnold, who left Week 5 after seemingly re-aggravating his shoulder issue. Initially, head coach Dan Campbell said that Arnold would be "out for a while". As bad as that sounds, things got even worse on Tuesday.
Terrion Arnold's Injury Is 'Likely' Season-Ending
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Tuesday that this is "likely" a season-ending injury for Arnold. The team and the talented cornerback are reportedly getting a second opinion on the shoulder, so he hasn't been entirely ruled out just yet, but things are obviously not looking promising for Arnold.
For a team that is already down multiple cornerbacks in DJ Reed and Ennis Rakestraw Jr., this is a devastating development. Arnold has been playing through the injury and has recently said that he has only been at 75%. Despite this, he has been playing himself into form, putting together back-to-back solid games. While continuing his frustrating habit of avoidable penalties, Arnold had been more active and disruptive in recent games. Before his injury against the Bengals, the second-year defender had two pass breakups in consecutive plays while only allowing 3/6 for 28 yards and a 63.2 passer rating.
Now, the Lions will be without their highest-upside cornerback. Amik Robertson and Rock Ya-Sin will likely see the lion's share of snaps on the outside, with Avonte Maddox taking over at the slot. Since Khalil Dorsey also remains out, the only depth piece is Tre Flowers. He was recently signed to the practice squad and immediately elevated to the active roster in Week 5, but it's hard to imagine that the Lions will continue with this core for the rest of the season.
With the trade deadline less than a month away, the Lions could choose to be active for a starting-caliber cornerback there. Otherwise, there are veterans like Stephon Gilmore, Kendall Fuller, and Asante Samuel Jr. who remain unsigned in free agency, who would be clear upgrades over the depth options on the roster.
It's almost a certainty that GM Brad Holmes will make a move to address the CB need. Which direction he will go remains to be seen.