The Home Stretch Is Terrion Arnold’s Turnaround Opportunity
Credit: Junfu Han via Imagn Images
Terrion Arnold’s tenure with the Detroit Lions started off with a bang, being the first-round pick of the team whose city hosted the Draft. “I’m home!” he shouted to the jubilant crowd.
Terrion Arnold’s initial reaction after being drafted by the Detroit Lions.
Lions fans welcomed T home.
The three things he said that meant most to him.
1) His family helped him get here
2) He’s great on the field and better off the field
3) The Lions got a STARAbsolute… pic.twitter.com/EJkx0SCb7d
— Spencer Raxter (@Spenmorax) April 26, 2024
Unfortunately, Arnold has faced a rocky beginning to his NFL career, particularly in the penalties department. He is currently responsible for 11 flags, more than any cornerback in the NFL. Seven of them have been due to pass interference, which is tied for most in the league. He has yet to show up in the box score in terms of interceptions. Among rookie corners, he has been targeted more than all of them (75 times), and he’s allowed the second-most receptions in the league (46).
After a tough stretch in which the Lions have allowed 79 points over the last two games, Arnold isn’t panicking or yelling “Knock it off!” at reporters.
“I would say it’s just one of those days where we had to prepare better and we played a really good football team,” Arnold said after Week 15’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. “But we have to not turn against each other and stay focused and get ready for the next opponent.”
While Arnold is absolutely experiencing growing pains adjusting to the NFL, there are positive signs that point to him having the tools it takes to be a top-flight corner. In man coverage, Arnold has allowed a passer rating of 78.0, which is among the stingier passer ratings in the league among starting rookie cornerbacks. This is on top of an extremely respectable 51.1 completion percentage while playing in man coverage. Despite the penalties, Dan Campbell seems to trust him on an island. Arnold’s 257 snaps in man coverage is the most in the entire NFL. It’s nearly 40 more than the second-place cornerback, Christian Gonzalez of the New England Patriots (218).
He has also significantly improved in the penalty department. After earning a whopping eight flags in the first four weeks of the season, he has only drawn three since then. These improvements have come just in time, as the Lions’ secondary suffered a major loss in the matchup against Buffalo.
Lions CB Carlton Davis suffered a fractured jaw and is out six weeks, @RapSheet reports pic.twitter.com/Mp5DEy8pJ2
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) December 16, 2024
The Lions have suffered injury after injury all across their entire roster. David Montgomery and Alim McNeill both suffered season-ending leg injuries, and Davis’ fractured jaw is just another devastating blow to a franchise that has long awaited this kind of shot at the Super Bowl. With Davis now out indefinitely, Arnold is now the next man up to take on the No. 1 cornerback role.
Perhaps best of all, he also has a coaching staff who believes that he can not only continue turning things around, but continue developing into an elite corner.
“Listen, he’s always been sticky in coverage, it’s the growth of him from how he started to where he is now,” Aaron Glenn said Thursday. “And I know that everybody was on him about these [pass interference penalties], which still [kill] me, but listen, that player is going to be a damn good player for us. We’re putting a lot of pressure on this player by the way that we play, but there’s no other way that he would want it. So, I’m glad we’ve got him for the simple fact that he’s going to be one of the top corners in this league as his years progress.”
Campbell is also noticing the turnaround. “[Arnold is] starting to push through this and he’s gaining enough valuable reps, experience,” Campbell said. “He’s not letting the grind of the season weigh him down and he’s getting better.”
With Arnold now the de facto CB1, continuing to build on his game is more important than ever. The Lions are currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings are both breathing down their necks, as all four teams share a 12-2 record. With Minnesota on the docket in Week 18, how Arnold goes up against Justin Jefferson could be the difference maker between a No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, and a fifth seed and a Wild Card playoff game on the road. The coaching staff believes he can continue progressing as a professional, and the home stretch of the season will put Arnold to the test as the Lions face off against the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Vikings. Even if he doesn’t ace the test, he is more prepared for that role than he was in Week 1. Far more prepared.
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