The Detroit Lions will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for their last game before their bye week. A difference between a win and a loss could be the difference between being first or last in the NFC North when they get out of their bye. Unfortunately, the Lions will be significantly short-handed once again, especially in the defensive backfield.
Defensive backs Brian Branch, Avonte Maddox, and Terrion Arnold are all expected to miss the game, in addition to D.J. Reed and Khalil Dorsey who are already on the injured reserve list.
Fortunately for Lions fans, the injury updates weren't all negative on Tuesday. ESPN's Eric Woodyard reported that head coach Dan Campbell said both Arnold and Maddox will "likely" return after the bye week.
Lions CB Terrion Arnold Set to Return Sooner Than Expected
Tuesday's news is a very positive update for Arnold, who was initially feared to have suffered a season-ending injury. The 22-year-old cornerback had exited the Week 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals after re-aggravating his shoulder injury. The initial prognosis was bleak, with the Lions preparing for the worst. Then, after getting a second opinion, the Lions were given more hope that the second-year defender would return this season.
Now, Campbell saying that he would be back in Week 9 is even better news than most Lions fans likely imagined.
There is surely a contingent of Lions fans who aren't necessarily excited about Arnold's return. The talented cornerback has continued to be a frustrating starter with avoidable penalties and mistakes. On top of that, he drew the ire of the fanbase by sharing a social media post trying to troll quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs ahead of Week 6, for it to only backfire.
At the same time, the Lions desperately need more bodies on the secondary. Upon returning from the bye, Detroit will face the Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, and Philadelphia Eagles in the following three weeks. That gauntlet of elite receivers will be a tough challenge for the depleted Lions' defensive backfield, but Arnold's return will at least bolster the cornerback rotation with his speed and athleticism.
If the Lions can avoid further injuries on the defensive side of the ball, they should be getting closer to whole. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill is coming back this week, and the Lions will slowly get veterans Marcus Davenport and D.J. Reed off the injured reserve in the second half of the season. Hopefully, this will fortunately give the Lions the boost they need to get back on track defensively.