Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, a three-time Pro Bowl winner, responded that cornerback is one guy being underappreciated in the Detroit training camp.Terrion Arnold has a great appearance. I’m happy for him.
After being selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the former Alabama defensive back is getting ready for his second season in the Detroit secondary.
During an appearance on Up and Adams on FanDuel TV, St. Brown remarked, “I mean, he just looks confident.” He has, in my opinion, consistently performed well for us. Just battling him every day makes me think that he has advanced from the previous year. He can play the ball well, is intelligent, has decent hands, and has good feet.
Arnold was the only cornerback from Detroit to play at least two-thirds of the Lions’ defensive snaps in 2024, with 948 last season.
The rookie didn’t always have an easy time. In 16 regular-season games, quarterbacks passed to receivers covered by Arnold 90 times. They had a 93.7 passing efficiency rate with 50 completions, 660 yards, and four touchdowns without any interceptions.
In 2024, Arnold was one of only 15 NFL defensive backs to encounter at least 90 passes during the regular season. Former Alabama All-American Marlon Humphrey of the Baltimore Ravens had the best passing efficiency rating (60.9), but he had the seventh-lowest.
In a 45-31 loss against the Washington Commanders during the playoffs, Arnold completed six of eight passes for 91 yards and one touchdown.
Regarding his first season, Arnold remarked, “I feel like it’s prepared me for this year.” People don’t realize that, for example, at cornerback, it’s a mental position as well. It’s like the transition, all the man-to-man snaps, seeing different things, my body adapting to different conditions, and then my coaches having the confidence to say, “Okay, he’s going to grow from this and become a better player.” For example, you start to doubt yourself after having a poor game. However, we all know that I am a self-assured person, therefore I have complete faith in myself.
Despite missing some training camp time due to injury, Arnold is improving from the previous season. Since former Auburn standout Carlton Davis joined the New England Patriots as a free agency this offseason, he is also missing the starting cornerback on the opposing side of the field during his first campaign.
D.J. Reed was signed by Detroit to cover Davis’s absence. Reed joins the Lions secondary with 71 NFL starts, including 14 with the New York Jets last season.
“The game slowing down has been the biggest growth,” Arnold remarked of his 2025 improvement. One play at a time, please. Entering the movie theater. Even though I can text defensive-backs coach Deshea (Townsend) at six in the morning and say, “Hey, I’ll be there in thirty minutes,” I feel like I have the best coaching staff in the NFL right now. At 6:30, we will reconvene. Jim O. Neil, the defensive assistant, is already at the building before the other guys there.
I don’t take anything for granted, even the room we have.
Arnold did not record an interception in his first season with Detroit, after having five interceptions in his final season at Alabama.
In anticipation of his first NFL interception, Arnold stated, “Well, look, we can’t, like, necessarily be too excited because, like, it’s expected.” Thus, we must, like, maintain our composure. Do you sense me? since it is expected. It will not be something along the lines of “Oh my God.” It will be along the lines of, That’s what I do.
As he did in Alabama’s 42-28 victory over LSU on November 4, Arnold stated that he hopes to intercept Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels when the Lions meet the Commanders on November 9.
“That’s my dog,” remarked Arnold. We converse, and he will most likely contact me after the interview to say, “You’re not picking me off.” He’s that kind of person. However, I often remind him and tell him about our game against LSU in college. that’s coming in the league, you know, because when I picked him off, that changed the game.
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On September 7, Detroit plays the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North to begin the regular season. The Lions play the Houston Texans on Saturday in their last preseason game.
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Mark Inabinett works for Alabama Media Group as a sports writer. You may follow him at @AMarkG1 on X.
