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Terrion Arnold

Lions Designate CB D.J. Reed, DE Marcus Davenport To Return From IR

November 12th, 2025 at 2:01pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Lions are designating cornerback D.J. Reed and defensive end Marcus Davenport to return from injured reserve, per Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers. Both defenders are expected to practice with the team on Wednesday.

Reed landed on IR at the beginning of October due to a strained hamstring. He signed in Detroit this offseason and was off to an excellent start with his new team. Through four games, he allowed receptions on only eight of his 16 targets with four passes defended, putting him on pace for the best season of his career. Rock Ya-Sin has seen an increase in playing time in Reed’s absence and will likely return to a backup role upon his return. However, Terrion Arnold is dealing with a concussion, so Ya-Sin could still start this week even if Reed is ready to play.

Davenport suffered a Week 2 injury for the second year in a row. In 2024, it was a season-ending elbow injury, but he avoided disaster this time with a pectoral strain. The veteran defensive lineman has taken longer to return than the four-game minimum stay on IR, but he could be a late-season boost to the Lions’ pass rush.

The team has 30 sacks on the season, which ranks fourth in the league, though most of that production has come from four players. Edge rushers Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad both have eight sacks, while linebackers Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes have chipped in four apiece. Davenport will add some depth on the edge and potentially allow defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard to come up with some more creative pressure packages.

Colts, Lions Seeking Cornerback Help

October 27th, 2025 at 10:37pm CST by Connor Byrne

With the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaching, a couple of the NFL’s top teams are interested in bolstering their secondaries. The 7-1 Colts and 5-2 Lions are making calls for cornerback help, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.

Although the Colts own the league’s best record, their success has come despite a depleted cornerback group. Their issues at the position began when they lost third-round rookie Justin Walley to a season-ending ACL tear in August. He had been pushing for a starting role alongside No. 1 corner Charvarius Ward and slot CB Kenny Moore.

Walley’s injury led the Colts to sign veteran Xavien Howard, but that didn’t yield positive results. He abruptly retired after a rough showing over the Colts’ first four games.

Adding to the Colts’ problems, they placed Jaylon Jones on IR with a hamstring injury after Week 1 and sent Ward to the shelf with a concussion after Week 6. The team has continued to win without them, though, and could get both players back soon.

The Colts opened Jones’ 21-day practice window on Oct. 22, which should lead to a return in the near future. Ward, meanwhile, has missed two games and is only required to sit out two more. He’ll be eligible to rejoin Indy’s secondary after a Week 11 bye.

With Ward and Jones unavailable, the Colts have been relying on the relatively untested group of Mekhi Blackmon, undrafted rookie Johnathan Edwards, Chris Lammons, and Cameron Mitchell to pick up the slack. While defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo‘s unit has persevered to allow the league’s sixth-fewest points per game (19.3), Indianapolis ranks a much less encouraging 28th against the pass.

Colts general manager Chris Ballard reportedly wants to acquire a “proven defensive playmaker,” an addition that could come in the secondary before the deadline.

The AFC South rival Titans traded corner Roger McCreary to the Rams on Monday, taking him off the board, but the Saints’ Alontae Taylor, the Seahawks’ Riq Woolen, and the Bengals’ Cam Taylor-Britt are among other names that have surfaced in the rumor mill. Taylor-Britt played under Anarumo, then Cincinnati’s D-coordinator, from 2022-24.

Any of Taylor, Woolen, or Taylor-Britt could also appeal to the Lions, who have joined the Colts in dealing with multiple injuries to notable cornerbacks. Starters D.J. Reed, a big-ticket offseason signing, and Terrion Arnold have been out of commission for the past few weeks.

Reed went on IR with a hamstring injury on Oct. 1. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 10, though it’s unclear if that will happen. Arnold last played on Oct. 5, but he’s making progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury. Head coach Dan Campbell said that Arnold will return to practice on Tuesday (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

Despite the absences of Reed, Arnold, and Avonte Maddox (hamstring), the Lions stymied Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and a banged-up receiving corps in Week 7. Amik Robertson, Nick Whiteside, Arthur Maulet, and Rock Ya-Sin led Lions corners in snaps in a 24-9 win.

Detroit is getting healthier coming out of its bye week, which could give general manager Brad Holmes less urgency to swing a trade in the coming days. However, Holmes is at least doing his due diligence with just over a week left until the deadline.

Lions CB Terrion Arnold To Return ‘Sooner Than Expected’

October 8th, 2025 at 12:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

12:40 p.m.: Lions head coach Dan Campbell threw some lukewarm water on expectations for Arnold’s return after the latest injury news, per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.

Campbell said that the second opinion on his young cornerback’s shoulder seems like a positive development, but is still uncertain about a precise timeline.

10:04 a.m.: Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is expected to return “sooner than expected” from a shoulder injury that was originally thought to sideline him for a significant amount of time, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

There were even fears that Arnold could miss the rest of the season, but that is no longer a concern. The second-year corner sought a second opinion on his injury, which revealed that he would not need surgery, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He could even return this month.

Arnold’s return will be important for a depleted Detroit secondary. He struggled to start the year and saw his snap share decrease in Week 4, but D.J. Reed‘s injury pressed him back into a more prominent role in the next game. Reed will be out for at least three more games while he is on injured reserve, and Ennis Rakestraw was declared out for the season during training camp. Depth cornerback Khalil Dorsey will also miss time with a wrist injury, per Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network.

As a result, Arnold cannot get back on the field soon enough. Rock Ya-Sin will be one of Detroit’s starting cornerbacks moving forward, while Amik Robertson will likely play on the boundary in base formations and flip into the slot for nickel and dime packages. That will require another outside cornerback for those latter looks, but the Lions have no clear answer on their roster. Former Eagle Avonte Maddox has primarily lined up in the slot in his career and as a free safety this season. Veteran Tre Flowers is likely Detroit’s best option. He played in their last game and will likely be elevated or promoted from the practice squad for Week 6.

Lions CB Terrion Arnold To Miss Time

October 7th, 2025 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

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.

Lions Place D.J. Reed On IR

October 1st, 2025 at 3:36pm CST by Connor Byrne

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 Could Move CB D.J. Reed To IR

September 29th, 2025 at 12:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

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.

Lions To Decrease CB Terrion Arnold’s Role

September 25th, 2025 at 11:30pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Lions are planning to decrease Terrion Arnold‘s role with the second-year cornerback struggling to contain opposing receivers to start the year.

Defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard said on Thursday (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press) that veteran Amik Robertson would take on a higher snap share at outside cornerback with Arnold seeing a commensurate decrease in his workload.

Robertson primarily aligned as a nickel corner in 2024 and led the team in slot snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The Lions’ heavy use of base personnel on defense has limited Robertson’s role this year, per Birkett, and the team wants to get him on the field for more plays.

Sheppard said that the cornerback change “has nothing to do with [Arnold’s] play or performance,” but it’s hard to deny that the 2024 first-rounder has taken a step back from his rookie year. In 2024, he allowed a 55.6% completion rate and 7.3 yards per target; those numbers have jumped to 72.6% and 11.0 this year, respectively. He also leads all NFL cornerbacks in yards allowed, per PFF.

The 2025 offseason saw Carlton Davis depart on the open market. D.J. Reed was brought in as a replacement, and the eighth-year veteran inked a similar contract (three years, $48MM) to the one Davis took in New England. Reed has operated as a full-time perimeter starter so far with Detroit; that can certainly be expected to continue moving forward. 2024 second-rounder Ennis Rakestraw, meanwhile, is out for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery in August.

Arnold’s rookie contract runs through 2027. The 22-year-old’s tenure in the Motor City could continue beyond that point with his fifth-year option being picked up and/or a long-term extension being finalized. Neither of those can take place until after the 2026 season, so the Lions have plenty of time before needing to make a decision on Arnold’s future with the team. For now, it will be interesting to see how this change in workload will affect Detroit’s secondary.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

Lions’ Derrick Barnes, Carlton Davis Out For Season; David Montgomery To Return

January 16th, 2025 at 2:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 16: Montgomery is off the Lions’ injury report altogether for their Commanders matchup. The Lions will also have Arnold ready to go for the divisional round, as the cornerback has shaken off the injury sustained in Week 18.

JANUARY 7: The Lions’ injury activation puzzle continues to come into focus. Dan Campbell shed light on some of his players on IR and those rehabbing injuries while still on the active roster. Good and bad news has emerged.

Chiefly, David Montgomery‘s dodging of a season-ending injury — the feared scenario when Detroit’s starting running back went down in Week 15 — is close to producing a return. After Montgomery took part in a full workout before the Lions’ Week 18 game, Campbell said (via the Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers) he expects the recently extended RB to be ready for the team’s divisional-round matchup.

Generally, when “team fears”-driven headlines surface, bad news emerges. This represents a rare positive development from that place, and the Lions now have two more weeks to prepare Montgomery to reform his elite tandem with Jahmyr Gibbs, who thrived as the team’s starter in the veteran’s stead. Gibbs is coming off a four-touchdown performance in the Lions’ dismantling of the Vikings. As a result, Gibbs’ backfield mate has more time to recover.

While Gibbs took on a bigger role this season, Montgomery still totaled 775 rushing yards and 12 TDs in 14 games. Montomgery also became a far more significant part of Detroit’s passing attack, amassing 341 receiving yards after totaling just 117 in his first Lions season. The team gave him a two-year, $18.25MM extension weeks before his MCL injury.

Montgomery does not factor into the Lions’ IR-return puzzle, having been kept on the active roster. Otherwise, he would have needed to wait one more week to return. Linebacker Derrick Barnes does, but Campbell said neither he nor Carlton Davis will be expected to play again this season. Barnes has been on IR since September with a knee injury. The Lions had not ruled him out, pointing to a potential late-season reemergence. Like D-lineman John Cominsky, however, no comeback is likely.

This is a tough blow to a former Day 3 pick in a contract year, and Barnes had started 26 games for the Lions since being part of the first Campbell-Brad Holmes draft. That included three starts this year. While Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez are done for the season, Alex Anzalone‘s return alongside Jack Campbell made a difference against Minnesota. Barnes’ injury activation place could be allocated to rookie DB Ennis Rakestraw. Campbell said the second-round pick is likely to be ready to go soon, Rogers adds. Rakestraw, a cornerback chosen 61st overall, suffered a hamstring injury during a late-November practice. The Missouri alum would represent some insurance, having only played 46 defensive snaps this season, for a position group battered by injuries.

Davis sustained a broken jaw in Week 15, and while the Lions did not place the trade pickup on IR as hope existed regarding a potential 11th-hour return, Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett) that is unlikely. Acquired in a package that brought a third-round pick to the Bucs, Davis started all 13 games he played for the Lions. He is heading toward free agency. Turning 28 just last week, the former Super Bowl LV starter should be expected to command extensive interest.

The Lions saw free agency addition Amik Robertson play quite well in relief Sunday night, operating primarily on Justin Jefferson and largely neutralizing the Vikings superstar. The former Raiders regular has started the past three games in place of Davis, playing alongside first-rounder Terrion Arnold. Being unable to put weight on his injured foot upon leaving the Lions’ Week 18 tilt, Arnold suffered a foot contusion. While Campbell stopped short of confirming Arnold would be back for Round 2, the fourth-year HC called the rookie’s prognosis “positive.”

Lions CB Terrion Arnold On Track For Starting Role

July 8th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Adam La Rose

Improving in the secondary was a priority for the Lions this offseason, and as a result the team has several new faces in place at the cornerback position. Trade acquisition Carlton Davis is, to no surprise, expected to handle a first-team defensive role in 2024. The other perimeter starting spot is yet to be determined.

The second cornerback spot will be a key position to watch during training camp, and Detroit has a number of contenders for the spot. As could be expected, though, the early favorite appears to be first-round rookie Terrion Arnold. During OTAs and minicamp, it was Davis and Arnold who handled the majority of reps with the starting defense, as noted by team reporter Tim Twentyman.

The Lions made Arnold the second corner off the board on Day 1 of the draft, moving up the order to acquire him. The Alabama product enjoyed a stellar 2023 campaign, leading the SEC in interceptions with five and adding 12 pass deflections. Arnold earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors while surpassing teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry as a more highly regarded draft prospect.

The Lions used the second selection on a cornerback as well, adding Ennis Rakestraw Jr. at No. 61 overall. The Missouri product will look to carve out a role during his rookie campaign, and he could compete with free agent signing Amik Robertson for playing time in the slot. On that note, Brian Branch is likely to split his time between the slot and safety this season, something which will have a notable effect on how the likes of Rakestraw and Robertson are used.

Twentyman names Emmanuel Moseley as another contender for a first-team perimeter role. The 28-year-old’s debut Lions campaign was cut short by an ACL tear, but he re-signed on a one-year deal in March. Moseley has 33 starts to his name dating back to his time with the 49ers, and he therefore represents an experienced alternative to Arnold as a first-team option. Questions remain about his health and his ability to return to his previous form, though, which could leave Arnold as the preferred option at the start of the campaign.

The Lions ranked 27th against the pass in 2023, and improving in that area would go a long way in helping the team repeat its 2023 success. How the cornerback pecking order is determined this summer will be a key factor in those efforts, making it an interesting storyline to follow.

Lions Sign Round 1 CB Terrion Arnold, Complete Draft Class

June 13th, 2024 at 12:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

Terrion Arnold signed his rookie deal with the Lions on Thursday, per a team announcement. As a result, each member of the team’s draft class is now on the books.

Detroit entered the offseason with cornerback seen as a pressing need, and the team addressed it with the trade acquisition of Carlton Davis and the signing of Amik Robertson. The Lions moved on from Cameron Sutton following his domestic violence arrest, though, leaving room for draft investments.

The 2024 draft’s hosts pulled off a trade with the Cowboys on Day 1, moving up five spots to No. 24. That allowed them to select Arnold and prevent a division rival the opportunity to do so. The Packers were reportedly high on the Alabama product, making them a threat to draft him at No. 25. Instead, Arnold will begin his career in the Motor City with high expectations.

The Freshman All-American took on a large role for the Crimson Tide in 2022. He posted one interception and eight pass breakups that season, but entering this past campaign it was teammate Kool-Aid McKinstry who was regarded as a better prospect. That changed over the course of 2023, with Arnold excelling with respect to coverage and ball production.

The latter led the SEC in interceptions (five) and finished second in the conference in pass deflections (12). Arnold – who was connected to a rumor about the Raiders deciding not to draft him via a coin flip – earned first-team All-SEC and All-American honors as a result and cemented his status as one of the top corners in this year’s class. He was the second prospect at the position to hear his name called, going two spots after the Eagles added Quinyon Mitchell.

Just like Philadelphia, Detroit doubled down on corners by adding Ennis Rakestraw Jr. in the second round. He and Arnold will compete for a starting role in a secondary which features Davis, Robertson and versatile 2023 second-rounder Brian Branch. Regardless of how the unit shakes out, Arnold’s addition should help Detroit take a notable step forward in pass defense this year.

Here is the final breakdown of the Lions’ draft class:

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