The Detroit Lions just picked up their fourth straight win, but the victory came with a brutal cost. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed on Monday that cornerback Terrion Arnold suffered a significant shoulder injury in Sunday’s 37–24 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and will be out for “a long time.”
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Campbell’s Update: ‘He’s Going to Be Out for a Long Time’
After practice Monday, Campbell didn’t sugarcoat the news.
“Unfortunately, he’s going to be out for a while,” Campbell said. “He’s going to be out for a long time.”
When pressed if this could end Arnold’s season, Campbell admitted he didn’t know yet but emphasized the seriousness of the situation.
“I don’t know that, but it’ll be a while, it’s going to be a while,” he repeated.
The injury leaves Detroit’s secondary dangerously thin. Just last week, the team placed D.J. Reed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, meaning both starting outside corners are now sidelined.
A Tough Blow for a Young Corner Finding His Stride
It’s a gut punch for Arnold, who was starting to turn a corner (pun intended) in his second NFL season. After being flagged frequently as a rookie in 2024, he entered 2025 with renewed confidence and a noticeable maturity during training camp.
Campbell praised his young defender’s poise and growth following Sunday’s game.
“He was very competitive. I thought he was calm, I thought he was cool, and I thought this was one of the better games he’s played in a while,” Campbell said. “I thought he was really good.”
Unfortunately, just as Arnold appeared to be finding his rhythm, the setback strikes.
What’s Next for Detroit’s Secondary?
With both Reed and Arnold sidelined, expect Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, and Avonte Maddox to see expanded roles. Tre Flowers may also be forced into action sooner than expected as defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard looks to patch together a unit that had been gaining momentum.
The Lions’ defense, one of the NFC’s best through five weeks, now faces its biggest test yet in maintaining coverage consistency without two of its top corners.
The Bottom Line
For Terrion Arnold, this injury is a cruel twist in what was shaping up to be a bounce-back season. For Dan Campbell’s Lions, it’s another reminder that every NFL contender has to battle adversity, and how they respond often defines their season.