A 24-point victory over the best defense in the league should be a celebratory time for the Detroit Lions. However, their big win was overshadowed by injuries to two of their starting cornerbacks.
The Lions already had numerous injury scares throughout their game against the Cleveland Browns, particularly with pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson and safety Kerby Joseph. The injury bug finally took its bite in the third quarter when second year CB Terrion Arnold left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury.
To make matters even worse, big free agent signing CB D.J. Reed needed to be carted off the field in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. Neither CB returned after leaving. Earlier in the game, Reed came down with his first interception with the Lions, nearly running back for a touchdown. Reed’s interception set up quarterback Jared Goff’s TD pass to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown to extend the lead to 17-7.
After the game, head coach Dan Campbell shed little light on the extent of the two injured CBs:
“I don’t know how — I don’t know what that’s going to be or how long. I mean, certainly, I cannot imagine (Reed) playing next week at a minimum ’til we get more tests done. And I don’t think (Arnold’s) a major, is a major thing. I don’t know. Then again, I don’t know about him next week, but it’s certainly not as significant as what, you know, is what Reed had.”
Coach Campbell with updates on D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold pic.twitter.com/PJInkP1LId
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 28, 2025
Losing Reed and Arnold is a massive blow to a Lions’ secondary that has already been struggling, both in terms of giving up big plays and with penalties. Next week, the Lions are expected to be going up against Cincinnati Bengals’ Jake Browning, who entered this week leading the league in INTs. After that, it’s two primetime games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs before their early bye week.
A reported trade candidate may be a necessary addition
General manager Brad Holmes has been adamant about trusting the team’s depth. It’s paid off so far with pass rusher Al-Quadin Muhammad’s impressive performance in place of Marcus Davenport. CB Amik Robertson has proven in the past that he can be a factor in big games. Yet, an opportunity may have presented itself that not even Holmes can resist.
On Thursday, NFL Network and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported that teams have been monitoring the situation surrounding Seattle Seahawks’ CB Riq Woolen. Rapoport mentions Woolen being in a contract year and has seen decreased playing time, especially with the return of Devon Witherspoon.
Woolen was a fifth-round pick out of the University of Texas at San Antonio and burst onto the scene. Woolen made the Pro Bowl in his rookie season after being the co-leader in INTs. Since then, Woolen has struggled to recapture that rookie year magic.
His vulnerability to mistakes and penalties may remind fans of Arnold, but with a depleted secondary, Woolen could be a relatively cheap replacement in the short term. Then, when Reed and Arnold hopefully come back, Woolen can be a solid depth piece in the latter stages of the season.
Whatever Holmes is thinking, the microscope will certainly be on him, given a recent string of injuries. While there’s a chance both Reed and Arnold are back before the November 4th trade deadline, fans are understandably anxious after injuries ravaged last season’s squad. A trade for someone like Woolen may not be the splashiest move, but it can give fans a degree of comfort that Holmes is ready to make moves to improve this team or stop any bleeding.
