With the bulk of free agency and the NFL Draft done and dusted, it's clear that the Detroit Lions have high hopes for cornerback Terrion Arnold entering his third season.
The Lions have largely avoided the outside CB position this offseason in favor of reinforcing the inside/Nickel CB void left by Amik Robertson after he signed with the Washington Commanders.
The first step for Arnold to justify those high hopes is to get healthy. Arnold missed two games in the first half of the season with a shoulder injury before returning in early November. Arnold's return was short-lived after suffering a concussion two weeks into his return. Arnold made one last return on Thanksgiving before reaggravating his shoulder, resulting in season-ending surgery.
Speaking at a charity event at Dave & Busters, Arnold provided an update on his injury, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press:
"Before I got hurt, I was getting in my groove, figuring things out. Started playing my best ball and then just dealing with that injury, nagging it, so I’m just excited to see where I’ll be at with not having any injuries and just really looking forward to being out there with my team."
Arnold said he doesn't know if he'll be back for organized team activities (OTAs), as it'll be "up to" the Lions and medical staff based on "where I’m at with my recovery and my treatment and stuff." However, he did say he's "expected" to be at training camp.
A training camp return could put Arnold on track to start in Week 1. If not, the Lions did bring back Rock Ya-Sin and Nick Whiteside, who both did an admirable job filling in across both outside CB spots throughout the season.
The Lions did bring in two new Nickel CBs in Roger McCreary and Christian Izien, with Izien possibly seeing more time at safety, while Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch recover from their respective injuries.
The team also drafted Keith Abney II in the fifth round, with numerous analysts calling the pick a steal for the Lions. Abney did play outside CB in college, and could seize the Lions' outside CB job much like he did at Arizona State.
Right now, though, he's projected to be another slot corner heading into this season, leaving Arnold with little threat to his left-side CB role outside of Whiteside.
What does Arnold think of the Abney selection?
Abney's pick was one of the most intriguing for the Lions. CB was seen as one of the team's biggest needs, as well as the fact that Abney was expected to go earlier in the draft. Arnold was asked about Abney joining the CB room, and he responded with nothing but praise for the "playmaker" and "smart kid," adding that Abney is going to "make the (CB) room better."
"Some of the things that coaches were saying, they just kind of raved about his football IQ. And obviously with him playing nickel or him playing the slot, I know his football IQ is hard because playing in the slot, a lot of people kind of underestimate the position but you have to know all the checks, you have to know the run fits, you have to know personnel groupings and then on top of that, you’re kind of like, not necessarily the leader of the secondary but you’re a communicator...So I know he’s an instinctual football player. I’m looking forward to getting him in."
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The Lions will not be hosting a formal rookie minicamp this season, but rookies like Abney are still set to report beginning this weekend for the rookie developmental program. There just won't be the practice portion of it.
Even so, hearing "rookie minicamp" and "training camp" means football season is just around the corner. It won't be much longer before fans see Abney showing off his playmaking ability as he competes for a starting job, and for Arnold to return to the field, hopefully better than ever.
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