By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions should be celebrating. A 34–10 thrashing of the Cleveland Browns marked their third straight win and further solidified Dan Campbell’s squad as one of the NFL’s hottest teams. But instead of pure joy, Sunday’s victory ended with a heavy cloud hanging over the locker room: the secondary has taken a massive hit.
Reed Goes Down — and Fights Until the End
Cornerback D.J. Reed’s injury was the gut punch nobody wanted to see. Mid-play, Reed pulled up with a hamstring injury but still managed to fight through and finish the tackle before being carted off. Campbell’s words afterward said it all:
“That’s the way he’s wired. That just shows everything you need to know. That to him is more important than his own body — making a play for his teammates.”
The good news? It’s not considered season-ending. The bad news? Reed will “be down for a while,” according to Campbell. IR isn’t out of the question.
Arnold Adds to the Worry
As if Reed’s absence wasn’t enough, rookie Terrion Arnold left the game with a shoulder injury. Thankfully, Campbell called this one “not a huge thing,” but his status against the Bengals is very much up in the air. Best-case scenario: Arnold guts it out this week. Worst case: Detroit waits another week to get him back.
The Depth Chart Gets Tested
With Reed likely sidelined and Arnold questionable, the “next man up” mentality Campbell preaches will be tested immediately. Rock Ya-Sin and Khalil Dorsey will need to step in and shoulder the load. Campbell didn’t rule out bringing in outside help either, even if only for depth or practice reps.
Lessons From the Past
Injuries in the Lions’ secondary are nothing new. Detroit was ravaged at cornerback last year, and Campbell reminded reporters that it’s why the team has always preached preparation:
“Our next guys up get reps and are expected to step in and not lose a beat. That’s the standard and that’s our expectation.”
Still, losing Reed for weeks and having Arnold banged up so early in the season feels eerily like déjà vu.
What This Means Moving Forward
The Lions may be 3–1 and riding momentum, but defensive back depth could quickly become the story of the season. A high-powered Bengals passing attack looms next, and Detroit’s secondary will be under fire.
The dream start isn’t over, but the injuries could derail it fast if reinforcements — or miracle recoveries — don’t come soon.