The Detroit Lions have lost another member of their secondary for at least four of the most important games of the 2025 season.
Cornerback Terrion Arnold, who missed practice because of a shoulder injury, was placed on injured reserve on Monday evening, according to the league’s transaction wire. He will be eligible to return for the team’s Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears if he’s able to come back at all.
Arnold sustained a shoulder injury in the team’s Week 5 win at Cincinnati and was kept out of the next two games before returning after the bye week against Minnesota in Week 9. He sustained a concussion in Week 10 that forced him to miss the next two games and returned for last Thursday’s game against Green Bay, when he had a limited role (18 defensive snaps).
It’s not entirely clear whether Arnold’s current shoulder injury is the same one that caused him to miss time earlier this season. Lions coach Dan Campbell initially said the injury could be season-ending, but a second opinion revealed it was possible to get him back on the field much earlier.
Lions safety Kerby Joseph has not played in six games because of a knee injury, while cornerback D.J. Reed just came back from a hamstring injury that caused him to miss six games.
Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin has held down the fort admirably: On 194 coverage snaps this season, Ya-Sin has allowed 14 catches for 163 yards with three pass breakups and an interception. It’s expected that Ya-Sin will continue his role as the starting outside cornerback opposite Reed whenever Amik Robertson is playing the nickel cornerback spot.
Arnold has allowed 23 catches for 331 yards and two touchdowns on 41 targets this season for an opposing passer rating of 88.6. He had four pass breakups and one interception. His coverage improved as the season went on, and he even cleaned up the penalties; he was on a three-game streak without being called for one when the news came down Monday.
In a corresponding move, the Lions also claimed tight end Hayden Rucci off waivers from the Miami Dolphins. The Lions have seen tight ends Sam LaPorta (back) and Brock Wright (neck) suffer serious injuries in recent weeks, making it necessary to add at the position. Rucci, who signed with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2024, has not caught a pass in his NFL career.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
