What first looked like a devastating turn for the Detroit Lions’ secondary may have opened the door for a surprise comeback. Cornerback Terrion Arnold was initially believed to have suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, but a second medical opinion has brought renewed hope that he could return before the campaign closes.
From “Likely Done” to “Could Return in Weeks”
Following a shoulder injury he aggravated during Sunday’s game against the Bengals, reports surfaced that Arnold’s season was likely over. As NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero put it, his understanding was that “this is likely a season-ending injury for Terrion Arnold,” though he emphasized that additional evaluations were still pending.
Then came the twist: Arnold got a second medical opinion. According to both Pelissero and Adam Schefter, that evaluation suggests he will not require surgery, and that his recovery timeline may be much shorter than initially feared — potentially putting him back on the field within the month.
Schefter noted that the injury appears “not as bad as feared,” and sources said Arnold is expected to return “sooner than expected.”
Arnold’s Form, Team Injuries, and the Backup Plan
Arnold had just delivered arguably his strongest performance of the season in his last game — limiting receptions, deflecting passes, and showing composure in coverage. His play had become more consistent, making the sudden injury all the more deflating for Detroit’s defense.
Compounding the blow, the Lions were already dealing with injuries in the secondary. Star cornerback D.J. Reed is out with a hamstring issue and currently resides on injured reserve. With Khalil Dorsey also injured, the team’s depth at cornerback has been stretched thin.
To cope, the Lions have added reinforcements from their practice squad — names such as Tre Flowers and Nick Whiteside — to help plug the gaps. As head coach Dan Campbell put it: “This train doesn’t stop for anybody … we’ve got to put our best 22 out there.”