The news around cornerback Terrion Arnold's shoulder injury has been all over the place. Earlier in the week, it appeared that Arnold would be gone for a significant amount of time, but on Tuesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported his shoulder injury wasn't as bad as originally feared, and one source said he would return, "sooner than expected”.
Head coach Dan Campbell spoke with the media on Wednesday and scaled back the optimism. He said they are in a holding position, as there is no guarantee that it's not a long-term injury. The second doctor's opinion was promising, per Campbell, but they are not out of the woods yet.
Terrion Arnold’s Shoulder Severity Is Still Up in the Air
On Wednesday morning, Detroit signed slot CB Arthur Maulet to the practice squad, giving them some much-needed depth in the secondary. The Lions already have D.J. Reed (hamstring) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (shoulder) on IR, so if Arnold is going to miss an extended period of time, that'll be a massive blow to the secondary.
Arnold expressed to reporters a couple of days ago that he was playing at 75% due to several injuries but this one is something that could be more serious. In five games, he has compiled 22 total tackles and four pass deflections. According to PFF, he has a 49.3 overall grade (133rd among 169 graded CBs) and 44.6 coverage grade (139th among 169 graded CBs). He's been solid in run defense (72.9 run-defense grade), but his troubles in coverage have been clear.
The Alabama product has allowed 18 receptions (29 targets) for 283 receiving yards and a score. It's no secret that he needed to play better, but the Lions knew they had to be patient with him. They used a first-round pick on him due to the faith they had in his traits and skills.
Having him miss time is never ideal, as he needs the reps. Right now, it's all about seeing what the next steps are regarding his shoulder injury, but if he in fact, is going to miss an extended period of time, that'll be a massive blow to the Lions' secondary.
They need all the help they can get in the cornerback room, but the Lions are pumping the brakes on all the optimism that has been around Arnold.