Arnold is out for the rest of the season after opting for shoulder surgery.
Terrion Arnold, and the Detroit Lions training staff, decided to let the second-year cornerback play on an injured shoulder after he had already missed time due to that affliction. After suffering a recent concussion, followed by inflaming that same shoulder injury, the defender is out for the year after opting to finally surgically repair that same shoulder.
What was once a seemingly season-ending injury for Arnold became just a bump he had to mend for a few weeks, and now we’re back at square one regarding that same injury. Kerby Joseph, who had returned to play in the Lions’ Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, also went from having a manageable knee injury to also seemingly being out for the year.
Injuries pile up throughout a season for any NFL team. It’s a brute sport and a sport of attrition. Often, only the healthiest teams by January are found making deep postseason runs.
But, after a 2024 riddled with injuries, one thing is clear about this Lions team: they must improve their work in rehabbing and evaluating injured players moving forward to avoid the situation they’ve now found themselves in with Arnold and Joseph.
Lions find themselves back in 2024 position after major injuries
Arnold and Joseph are the Lions’ two best protectors against the pass, which leaves Detroit open to all sorts of vulnerabilities over the next two weeks. They have to host the Dallas Cowboys in Week 14, a team bolstered by an MVP-like Dak Prescott in addition to his weapons in George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb.
In Week 15, they don’t get a break. They’re facing off with Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams, and the Los Angeles Rams in that contest. This is going to potentially make or break their shot at the postseason depending on how the Dallas game goes, but without Arnold and Joseph, it feels difficult to imagine the Lions being able to contain Stafford in the air.
Frank Ragnow won’t save the Lions from their massive Graham Glasgow problem
Detroit has next to no depth at the cornerback or safety position left this season, save for some practice squad elevations that have contributed here and there. They will likely have to look to free agency and the draft to reshape these rooms, especially if Joseph’s injury appears to be as bad as his latest social media break is letting on.
Moving forward, Lions fans have to be hoping that the staff becomes a bit more cautious about letting players continue to fight through injury. Arnold could’ve avoided an exacerbated shoulder injury had they simply advised him to get that surgery way back in Week 5.
Be the first to comment