The Detroit Lions will return from their much-needed bye on Sunday with an NFC North clash against the Vikings. Decimated by injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Lions hope that the extra week off will give them a chance to rest, recover, and regroup for the second half of the season. How much healthier the Lions will be on Week 9 remains to be seen, but head coach Dan Campbell gave a positive update on Terrion Arnold, saying that the 22-year-old cornerback will practice on Tuesday and that "he feels good," per ESPN's Eric Woodyard.
That is certainly a great sign for the second-year defender, but the Lions still need to be cautious about rushing him back. Arnold suffered a shoulder injury that was considered to be potentially season-ending in Week 5. Despite everyone expecting him to be out for a long time, as the team first announced, Arnold's prognosis changed entirely after he sought out a second opinion. Now, he may be on schedule to return to action less than a month after his initial injury.
Despite Arnold's Return to Practice, Lions Should Think Twice Before Starting Him
Considering the amount of pain Arnold was in and how severe the injury looked, that certainly doesn't seem like enough time for a return. It's obviously a great sign that he is practicing, the Lions must see how he holds up in practice, though, especially since Arnold already returned to practice the Friday before Week 7, according to the team's injury report, only to be a non-participant the next day.
It's not like the Lions desperately need Arnold back. They have more than held their own in his absence, completely locking up the dynamic Bucs offense with the likes of Nick Whiteside and Arthur Maulet in the rotation. Rock Ya-Sin and Amik Robertson have been playing well, and Avonte Maddox and Kerby Joseph are expected to be back for Week 9, giving the Lions' secondary a boost against the dangerous Vikings receivers.
If Arnold practices in full all week and is ready to go by Sunday, the Lions can surely benefit from his physical and athletic tools. The first injury report on Wednesday should give us a better idea of his status, but the Lions should be prepared to sit Arnold for another week and let the backups who did such an amazing job get another chance.