NFL Analyst Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports urged The he Lions to give Arnold a break
The Detroit Lions invested heavily in their secondary during this year’s NFL Draft, using their top two picks to bring in cornerbacks.
However, their top pick, Terrion Arnold, has faced early challenges in adjusting to the NFL, and some analysts believe it may be time for the Lions to give him a break. According to Mike Payton of AtoZ Sports, Arnold’s early struggles with penalties and inconsistent play are becoming a concern, and the team might need to consider benching him temporarily to help him reset.
Arnold’s NFL career has only just begun, with three games under his belt, but the issues are piling up quickly. So far, Arnold leads all defensive players in the league in penalties and pass interference calls, an alarming stat for any player, let alone a rookie. He’s also been fined by the NFL for a face mask penalty, an indicator of how his errors are directly affecting the Lions on the field.
Payton pointed out these mistakes and urged the Lions to give Arnold a chance to regroup by taking him out of the starting lineup for a brief period.
“We’re not calling him a bust because he’s far from it. We’re not even saying that Arnold should be benched for the rest of the season. We’re saying it’s time for him to sit down for a minute to get things together,” Payton wrote.
He clarified that the suggestion is not meant as a permanent demotion, but rather a strategic move to help Arnold adjust to the professional level without the immediate pressure of being in the starting lineup.
Arnold’s penalties have been particularly damaging to the team in crucial moments. In the Lions’ 26-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams, Arnold was flagged for pass interference twice in the end zone, penalties that directly led to 10 points for the Rams.
These costly mistakes nearly allowed the Rams to close the gap, putting the Lions in a difficult spot in what was a closely contested game.
Arnold’s struggles continued
Arnold’s struggles continued in the Lions’ following game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was flagged again for pass interference. This time, the penalty led to a field goal for Tampa Bay. Arnold also committed a facemask penalty in the same game, which moved the Buccaneers into Detroit territory, eventually leading to a touchdown on that drive. These types of errors not only give up yardage but also swing momentum in favor of the opposing team, making it harder for the Lions to maintain control of the game.
Given Arnold’s early difficulties, Payton suggested that the Lions might want to consider starting Kindle Vildor in his place for the time being.
This would allow Arnold to get up to speed with the NFL and work on his issues in practice without the added pressure of starting each week. Vildor has more experience and could provide more stability in the secondary while Arnold regains his confidence and fine-tunes his game.
Other analysts have echoed similar concerns about Arnold’s performance. Zach Moran of USA Today’s Lions Wire pointed out after Week 2 that Arnold started games quietly, which is usually a good sign for a cornerback, but his mistakes as the games wore on put the defense in difficult situations.
“Early in the game, Arnold was relatively quiet—a good sign for a cornerback—but things took a turn for the worse as the game progressed,” Moran wrote, referencing his pass interference penalties that directly led to points for the Rams.
Unfortunately for the Lions, their options in the secondary are limited due to injuries. Brian Branch, a versatile defensive back, suffered a neck injury during the team’s win over the Arizona Cardinals on September 22 and was placed in concussion protocol.
While there is optimism about his return, with Branch participating in practice in a limited capacity, his status for the next game remains uncertain. If Branch is unavailable, the Lions’ depth in the secondary will be further tested, placing even more pressure on Arnold and the rest of the defensive backs to step up.
Through the first three games of the season, Branch has been a key player for the Lions, registering 22 tackles (16 solo), seven passes defended, and one interception. His absence could leave the Lions’ secondary vulnerable, which might limit the team’s ability to make significant changes in the lineup, including potentially benching Arnold.
Ultimately, the Lions face a tough decision. Arnold’s struggles are evident, but the team may not have the depth to sit him, especially if Branch remains sidelined. How the Lions handle the situation could have significant implications for their defense moving forward.
