Lions reportedly lose cornerback Terrion Arnold for rest of 2025 NFL season due to shoulder surgery

At 7-5, the Detroit Lions are very much in the playoff picture in a surprisingly tough NFC. But as the regular season barrels toward its conclusion, the Lions' push for the postseason is getting more difficult.

That trend continued Tuesday, as second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold will reportedly miss the rest of the 2025 NFL season due to shoulder surgery, according to NFL Network.

After an uneven rookie season, which earned Arnold some down-ballot Rookie of the Year award votes, the 22-year-old corner has had trouble staying on the field in Year 2. Arnold originally sustained a shoulder injury in Week 5. At the time, Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed concern, saying Arnold could be "out a long time" due to the issue.

But the Lions got better news than expected after further evaluation. Arnold missed a few weeks before returning to action in Week 9. That return was short-lived, as Arnold sustain a concussion the following week, preventing him from playing in the Lions' next two contests.

He returned to face the division-rival Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving, but played just 18 snaps in the contest. Arnold recorded four tackles during the game.

On Monday, the team may have shed some light on Arnold's limited playing time in that contest, placing the second-year corner on Injured Reserve due to a shoulder injury. While that move left open the possibility Arnold could return if the team made a run in the postseason, Tuesday's report suggests that won't be the case. Arnold will reportedly miss the rest of the year due to season-ending surgery.

The Lions expected big things from Arnold when the team selected him with the No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. He experienced an up and down rookie year, allowing a 99.2 passer rating on balls thrown his way as a rookie, per SI.com.

Arnold didn't do much to prove himself in Year 2, though injuries clearly played a role in his less than stellar metrics. PFF grades Arnold as the 91st best cornerback in the NFL this season.

Despite his on-field struggles, Arnold's injury comes at a tough time for the Lions. The team briefly thought it was going to get standout center Frank Ragnow to come out of retirement for the stretch run, but the veteran failed his physical due to a hamstring injury and won't play in 2025. The team could also be without standout tight end Sam LaPorta, who underwent back surgery ahead of the team's Thanksgiving game against the Packers. Campbell said LaPorta would likely miss the rest of the season due to the issue.

Under Campbell's watch, the Lions have transformed from bottom feeder to one of the best teams in the NFL. Despite some lofty regular-season win totals, however, the Lions have yet to reach the Super Bowl under Campbell.

Even without some key players, the Lions are talented enough to rally down the stretch and emerge as a legitimate contender. But those injuries are going to make it an uphill battle for last year's No. 1 seed in the NFC.