Rookie NFL cornerbacks are targets, for opponents and officials, especially early in the season. Lions first-round pick Terrion Arnold has been no different, with pass interference penalties (four now, in three games) and a fine for a facemask penalty in Week 2 grabbing attention.
On Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Arnold picked up his aforementioned fourth pass interference penalty of the season. Pro Football Focus data about his performance is mixed, with a poor overall grade but also credit for allowing just two catches on six targets when he covered Marvin Harrison Jr.
The Lions are giving Arnold plenty of runway to adjust to NFL officiating. If not for leaving briefly with minor injuries in each of the last two games, he'd be pushing toward having played 95-100 percent of the team's defensive snaps through three games. Sunday, dismal PFF grades aside and for whatever those are worth to some, can be marked as the best game he has had so far.
Call to bench Terrion Arnold ignores a simple reality
It's important to maintain the intended context, which is not to have him completely out of uniform. But Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports thinks the Lions should consider taking Arnold out of the starting lineup.
"Arnold has played just three NFL games and he leads all defensive players in the league penalties. He also leads the league pass interference calls. This guy has played three games and he's already been fined by the NFL for a face mask. This isn't normal."
Sure, the number of pass interference penalties Arnold has drawn is elevated, and when you add the fine for the facemask penalty it can be said it "isn't normal."
Who would take Arnold's place in the starting lineup? Payton offered a suggestion.
"Again, Arnold is not a bust. The suggestion here is have him come off the bench for just a little bit while he works on technique and gets things under control. Start Kindle Vildor instead and then throw him back in the starting lineup when you feel the problem is cleaned up."
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he wasn't concerned about Arnold's penalties after Week 1, so it's fair to say it's not seen as a big problem. Whether it should be seen as a problem or not is a different conversation.
Then there's the real brass tacks regarding benching Arnold for Kindle Vildor.
Vildor, due to lack of other options, was a starting cornerback for the Lions for the last two regular season games last year and through the playoffs. He had a bit of bad fortune in the NFC Championship Game, when an awkward angle on a deep pass led to the ball hitting him in the facemask and Brandon Aiyuk making a acrobatic reception.
But even leaving that out, Vildor was not particularly good and he would not have been starting if there were any other viable options. If he was deemed to be starting-caliber, wouldn't the Lions have treated him as such? Instead, he was practically pushed right off the cornerback depth chart by moves made during the offseason.
It's not a reach to say Arnold could benefit from playing a bit less while he hones his technique. But taking him out of the starting lineup, even a cosmetic as that can be in terms of actual snaps played, is a little aggressive. And if it were on the table, Vildor is not the alternative anyone should want.