Detroit Lions Set To Be Without Key Defender For ‘A Long Time’

Justin Rimpi
Detroit Lions

Just when you thought the Detroit Lions’ defense was starting to look like the real deal, the injury bug bit, and it bit hard. Dan Campbell, in his classic, no-nonsense style, dropped a bomb on Monday that has the “Motor City” holding its breath: second-year Cornerback Terrion Arnold is out for “a long time.”

What Led To This Injury?

How long is “a long time,” you ask? Well, Campbell was about as clear as mud on that, admitting he doesn’t know if it’s a season-ending injury but that it’ll “be a while.” So, for the foreseeable future, one of the Lions’ most promising young defensive backs is on ice. This is the kind of news that makes a fanbase collectively groan and reach for the nearest adult beverage.

Arnold, fresh off a game against the Bengals that Campbell himself called “solid,” was already battling through injuries like a seasoned vet. He started the season with a groin issue and had been dealing with a shoulder problem for the past couple of weeks. He was playing at what he called “75 percent,” which, frankly, looked better than a lot of guys’ 100 percent. But the shoulder finally gave out, and he was carted off the field, a sight no fan ever wants to see.

Next Man Up? More Like Next Men Up

If losing Arnold wasn’t a big enough blow, Campbell added that fellow Cornerback Khalil Dorsey will also be “out for a while.” This secondary is suddenly looking thinner than a supermodel’s patience. With D.J. Reed already on IR, the Lions are staring at a defensive backfield held together by hope and duct tape.

So who’s left to hold down the fort? The Lions will now have to lean heavily on Amik Robertson, Rock Ya-Sin, Tre Flowers, and Nick Whiteside. Robertson, who played every defensive snap against the Bengals, is a perfect example of the team’s current predicament. He managed to snag an interception but also got torched by Ja’Marr Chase for a 62-yard touchdown. After the game, Robertson owned his mistake, calling himself “greedy” and vowing to fix it. You have to love the accountability, but it highlights the razor-thin margin for error the Lions are now working with.

The Campbell Philosophy: No Excuses

Of course, if you are looking for sympathy, you’ve come to the wrong head coach. Campbell’s response was exactly what you’d expect: “This train doesn’t stop for anybody. Nobody cares, nobody feels sorry for you.”

It’s that “next man up” mentality, a phrase so common in football it’s practically a cliché, but in Detroit, it’s a way of life. Defensive Coordinator Kelvin Sheppard echoed that sentiment, noting that the defense has been “all in from the start.” Seeing results on the field has only strengthened their resolve. When guys see that the system works, they buy in even harder.

That’s all well and good, but a system is only as strong as the players running it. While the Lions might scrape by during the regular season, the big question looms: Is this patched-up secondary good enough to make a real Super Bowl run? The train might not stop, but without some serious help at cornerback, it might just derail before it reaches its final destination.

Justin Rimpi

Justin has been a sportswriter for nearly a decade. He has previously written for 247 Sports an Sports Illustrated.