Lions starting CB Terrion Arnold could return this month: Source

What a difference a day makes.

One day after Dan Campbell said starting cornerback Terrion Arnold would be out for a “long time,” a second opinion on his injured shoulder shed a more favorable outlook on the second-year player’s season.

The Athletic’s Jeff Howe reported that Arnold could return as early as this month from a shoulder injury.

The Lions went from potentially losing Arnold for the rest of the 2025 season to potentially getting him back by the end of October. That’s huge news for this team. Based on this timeline, it doesn’t seem like an injured reserve stint is warranted.

If Arnold misses Detroit’s next two games against the Chiefs and Buccaneers, but is able to return to practice in late October after the Lions’ Week 8 bye, he could potentially be back for a home game versus the Vikings in Week 9. At the same time, the team could opt to play it cautious with their young corner and let him heal with a trip to the IR. If that’s the move, the earliest he’d be able to return is Week 11 at Philadelphia.

The Lions could be getting fellow starting CB D.J. Reed (hamstring) back around that time as well — he’s eligible to return in Week 10 against the Commanders. We’ll see what the Lions do, but the fact that Arnold is now expected to return is a huge boost to a secondary that will need him.

Still, the Lions will be without both starting corners Sunday when they play at the Kansas City Chiefs. Here is our look at what their secondary situation looks like without Reed and Arnold.