Lions CB Terrion Arnold To Miss Time
OCTOBER 7: Arnold’s injury could end his season, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (video link). He adds additional opinions are being sought out at this point. More clarity could emerge soon in this case as a result.
OCTOBER 6: The Lions’ depth at the cornerback spot has taken another hit. Detroit is already without Ennis Rakestraw and D.J. Reed, and Terrion Arnold is now sidelined as well. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Dan Campbell said Arnold will be out for “a while” due to a shoulder injury (video link). It is unclear at this point if the ailment will prove to be season-ending. In any case, losing Arnold for an extended period will deal a notable blow to Detroit’s’ secondary.
[RELATED: Lions Among Suitors For Tre Hawkins]
Rakestraw landed on injured reserve this summer, meaning his 2025 campaign was over before it started. Reed, meanwhile, was moved to IR last week as a result of a hamstring injury. Reed will miss at least the next three games. Even when he comes back, though, depth at the cornerback spot will be an issue provided Arnold’s absence lasts as long as the team fears it will.
The 2024 first-rounder logged over 900 snaps as a rookie, and he remained a starter on the perimeter to begin the current campaign. Arnold was in line to have his workload reduced, but the Reed injury made it difficult to keep him off the field. Now, both of the Lions’ projected boundary starters will be unavailable for the time being. Rakestraw’s absence will be acutely felt since he would have been a candidate to take on a notable role in the wake of these other injuries.
Nevertheless, the 4-1 Lions will be tasked with moving forward without several key players at the CB spot. Amik Robertson could find himself in a full-time role on the outside despite being best suited to the slot. Rock Ya-Sin, Tre Flowers and Avonte Maddox are also in the fold at this point; some or each of them could be in store for a notable uptick in workload through the remainder of the campaign.
The Lions entered Monday with over $26MM in cap space. Finances will therefore not be an issue if one or more cornerback additions are to be pursued in the near future.
CB Tre Hawkins Drawing Interest
Injuries limited Tre Hawkins to three games last season and left him off the Giants’ roster following training camp this summer. The free agent cornerback is unsigned at this point, but that could soon change. 
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Hawkins is making progress in his recovery from the hamstring injury he dealt with during training camp. The Giants ultimately waived him with an injury designation, ending his New York tenure but allowing Hawkins to sign with a new team after a specified period. According to Wilson, the list of Hawkins suitors consists of the 49ers, Ravens, Lions, Dolphins and Colts.
Cornerback represents an area of need to varying extents in the case of all five of those teams. Miami moved on from Kendall Fuller (through release) and Jalen Ramsey (through trade) this offseason. The CB spot remained a question through training camp and into the season, and a number of injuries have now piled up. As such, a Hawkins signing could result in immediate playing time.
That is also the case for teams like Indianapolis (with Xavien Howard recently being moved to the reserve/Retired list) and Detroit (with D.J. Reed currently residing on injured reserve). Baltimore’s defense includes several key missing contributors. That includes cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie, both of whom were sidelined yesterday and could miss further game action.
San Francisco’s secondary has seen the likes of Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green handle full-time starting roles as expected. Depth is always sought out in the middle of the season, though, and with a 4-1 record the NFC West leaders represent a logical candidate to pursue multiple additions during the campaign. With nearly $24MM in cap space, the 49ers could certainly afford to take multiple fliers on free agents.
Hawkins, 25, saw part-time usage on defense and special teams during his rookie season. The former sixth-rounder saw his snap share increase to 40% the following year, but he was only available for 89 snaps. Given today’s update, a number of teams certainly see upside in this case in addition to an encouraging outlook on the health front. It will be interesting to see how many visits Hawkins makes over the coming days given his list of suitors.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/4/25
Here are Week 5’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: QB Tyler Huntley, DT C.J. Okoye
Buffalo Bills
- Signed to active roster: LB Jimmy Ciarlo
- Elevated: DT Zion Logue, DT Phidarian Mathis
- Placed on IR: CB Dorian Strong
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: T Devin Cochran, CB Tre Flowers
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB Damon Arnette, S Jalen Mills
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from practice squad: CB Chris Lammons
- Elevated: RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Mike Hilton
- Placed on IR: S Daniel Scott
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: OLB Clelin Ferrell, RB Kimani Vidal
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Neville Hewitt, K Jude McAtamney
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: LB Mykal Walker
- Elevated: S Dean Clark, RB Avery Williams
- Waived: WR Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: S Jerrick Reed II, DT Brandon Pili
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: WR Tay Martin
Huntley will be on hand to back up backup quarterback Cooper Rush in Baltimore tomorrow against the Texans. Okoye is called up for the second week in a row as injuries continue to hamper the Ravens’ defensive line, as well.
With some continuing injuries causing some concern in the secondary, the Browns will elevate Avery and Jones for the second straight week. Jones is being elevated for the third time this season, meaning that if Cleveland wants to see him in another game this year, the team will need to sign him to the active roster. The same is true for Logue in Buffalo, Hewitt with the Giants, Clark with the Jets, and Pili in Seattle.
Arnette’s promotion means Week 5 will mark his first regular season action in the NFL since the end of his Raiders tenure in 2021. The former first-round pick revived his career in part through his performances in the UFL this spring, something which created interest from multiple teams in free agency. Arnette, 29, will look to use tomorrow’s contest in a bid to land a permanent role in Houston.
This is the second time the Jets have parted ways with a kick returner following a game in which they had a costly fumble. Williams follows in footsteps of Xavier Gipson, who was waived following a similar mistake in the team’s season opener. There appears to be a pretty short leash for young returners in New York at the moment.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/25
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Jermar Jefferson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G LaDarius Henderson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Nick Whiteside
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: T Bobby Hart
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Caleb Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: OLB Tomon Fox
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Myles Gaskin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Robbie Chosen
NFL Minor Transactions: 10/1/25
Here are the first minor transactions of October:
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: S Loren Strickland, LB Ty Summers
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: S Trey Washington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: T Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: WR Tyreek Hill (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Packers): T Brant Banks
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Placed on IR: DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (story)
Lions Place D.J. Reed On IR
The Lions will have to go at least the next four games without starting cornerback D.J. Reed. The team placed Reed on injured reserve on Wednesday. While Reed will not require surgery on his strained hamstring (via Eric Woodyard of ESPN), he won’t be eligible to return until Nov. 9 against the Commanders.
Considering Reed was carted off the field in the Lions’ win over the Browns last Sunday, his IR placement doesn’t come as a surprise. Nevertheless, it’s an unwelcome development for Detroit, which added the former Seahawk, 49er, and Jet on a three-year, $48MM contract in free agency last March. Injury aside, the investment has looked good so far.
During his first four games as a Lion, Reed played over 88 percent of defensive snaps and helped the team to a 3-1 start. Along with leading all Lions corners in playing time, Reed posted 16 tackles, four passes defensed, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Pro Football Focus ranks his early season performance 28th among 164 qualifying corners.
Before Reed went down, the Lions had been set to reduce fellow outside corner Terrion Arnold‘s usage. Arnold then joined Reed in suffering an injury last week, though he was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday despite a shoulder issue (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). Arnold, Amik Robertson, Khalil Dorsey, and Rock Ya-Sin will now have to pick up the slack in Reed’s absence.
The Lions’ schedule over the next few weeks looks like a mixed bag. Their Reed-less secondary will take on Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning on Sunday, but they’ll have to contend with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield in the two weeks after that. After a bye, the Lions will face the division-rival Vikings and either J.J. McCarthy or Carson Wentz on Nov. 2.
Lions DT Alim McNeill Returns To Practice
Earlier this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Alim McNeill was on track to return to practice. The fifth-year defensive tackle is indeed back on the field. 
McNeill returned to practice today, as noted by Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network. As a result, his 21-day activation window has now opened. McNeill was one of three Lions players moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns, ensuring at least a four-week absence.
That decision came as little surprise since the 25-year-old was in the midst of rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his 2024 season. McNeill has made solid progress in recovery, though, and today’s news marks another encouraging update in this case. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes it would come as a surprise if a return to game action were to take place this week, but McNeill could be available before the Lions’ Week 8 bye.
“We want to make sure that we check all those boxes before we say that’s what we’re going to do for sure, but it’s trending in the right way,” Campbell said (via Birkett) of McNeill shortly before today’s return to practice. “He’s about ready to go. I think he’s tired of training. He’s trained all he can train. He’s done everything he can do, he just needs football.”
Having McNeill back in the fold soon will be critical for Detroit’s defensive front. The former third-round pick has established himself as a key figure along the D-line, totaling 8.5 sacks over the past two years despite missing time in both campaigns. McNeill inked a four-year, $97MM extension shortly before tearing his ACL, a sign of his value to the franchise and also a clear indicator the Lions will look to play it safe regarding his return.
Detroit is without Levi Onwuzurike for the season after he suffered an ACL tear of his own in July. With the Lions already thin along the defensive interior as a result, McNeill being activated will provide them with a major boost in the form of a starter to share time with veteran D.J. Reader and first-round rookie Tyleik Williams. Provided McNiell does not suffer any setbacks, he should be in the fold shortly for a Lions team which has enjoyed a 3-1 start to the campaign.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/30/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Jaden Davis
- Released: CB Ekow Boye-Doe
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: C Sam Mustipher
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Ameer Speed
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Parris Campbell
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Tre Flowers, LB Ty Summers
- Released: WR Ronnie Bell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB Carter Bradley
- Released: QB Seth Henigan
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OT Leroy Watson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Michael Dunn, CB Isas Waxter
- Released: CB Myles Purchase, OLB Rashad Weaver
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OT Matt Waletzko
- Released: WR Tim Jones
New England Patriots
- Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez, G Andrew Rupcich
- Released: G Jack Conley, DL Fabien Lovett
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Liam Fornadel
- Released: LB Ben Niemann
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: LB Lance Dixon
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OT Logan Brown
Lions Could Move CB D.J. Reed To IR
The Lions saw cornerbacks Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed suffer injuries yesterday. The former does not appear to be in line for an extended absence, but the latter could find himself on injured reserve.
Arnold suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday, although head coach Dan Campbell said (via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network) he does not anticipate a lengthy spell on the sidelines. That will be welcomed news even with Arnold’s struggles early this season and the resultant plan to lower his playing time. Such a setup may need to be put on hold for now.
Reed was carted off the field with a hamstring injury. Based on Campbell’s post-game remarks, Rapoport notes a move to IR could be in store in this case. That would ensure at least a four-week absence for Reed; it would also leave Detroit without a perimeter starter for an extended period.
During the offseason, the Lions expectedly lost Carlton Davis on the open market. Detroit took the free agent route to bring in Reed on a pact similar in length and value (three years, $48MM) to the one Davis landed with the Patriots. Arnold and fellow returnee Amik Robertson have been key figures in the secondary to date, and that will of course remain the case moving forward. Still, losing Reed for any notable period will mark a blow to Detroit’s secondary.
The 28-year-old has served as a full-time starter with his newest team, collecting four pass deflections early on. Reed also notched his first interception of the season shortly before suffering the injury. Further testing in his case will be worth watching closely, as it will inform the Lions’ decision with respect to an IR move taking place or being avoided.
The plan for reducing Arnold’s usage was aimed at giving Robertson more time on the boundary as opposed to the slot. If Reed winds up missing considerable game action, Robertson may be forced to handle a full-time role on the perimeter opposite Arnold (presuming, of course, he does not wind up being sidelined for an extended period). In any case, defensive adjustments will likely be necessary as the Lions look to build off their strong start.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/27/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DT Jordan Phillips
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, G Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- Signed to active roster: LB Carl Jones
- Elevated: TE Stephen Carlson, DT Jonathan Ford
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: WR Jalen Cropper
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: WR Jackson Meeks
- Placed on IR: S Daniel Thomas
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: G Lecitus Smith
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB Myles Bryant, CB D’Angelo Ross
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Mike Hilton, G Josh Sills
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Quintin Morris, WR Austin Trammell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: CB Kevin Knowles, DT Brodric Martin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: TE Albert Okwuegbunam, TE Carter Runyon
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: T Foster Sarell, RB Kimani Vidal
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Darius Harris, C Brenden Jaimes
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: DE Fadil Diggs, LB Nephi Sewell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: RB Trey Sermon
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Curtis Jacobs, RB Jordan Mims
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Antonio Hamilton, WR Tay Martin
With Colts cornerback Kenny Moore presumed to potentially miss a few weeks, the recent signee, Hilton, will get his opportunity to supplement the team’s secondary. He may be able to earn an official spot on the 53-man roster with an impactful game. Similarly, Cropper may be able to get into his first NFL game since going undrafted in 2023 as he gets elevated to a receiving corps that will sorely miss CeeDee Lamb.
Morris is getting called up for the third time for Jacksonville. If the Jaguars intend for him to appear in another game after this week, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster.