The Kansas City Chiefs have a huge primetime game to focus on tonight as they will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars to wrap up Week 5. However, the Chiefs received significant news regarding their next opponent in Week 6, who will be without one of their starting cornerbacks for the highly anticipated matchup on Sunday Night Football.
According to Colton Pouncey of The Athletic, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters that second-year cornerback Terrion Arnold is going to be out for a “long time.”
The former first-round pick has been dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered in Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns. This is less-than-ideal news for Detroit, which is already without its other starting cornerback, D.J. Reed. Additionally, Lions reporter Nolan Bianchi added that CB Khalil Dorsey is also due to miss some time.
With Reed already on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, this is terrible news for the Lions. On the other hand, the news coming out of the Motor City is a massive development for the Chiefs, who now know how to attack Detroit's defense next week.
Lions Lose Starting CBs Terrion Arnold, Khalil Dorsey Before Week 6 Matchup vs. Chiefs
Things were already tough for the Lions, who had to move Amik Robertson (starting slot) to the outside to replace Reed. Now, Detroit will not have Arnold, who had one of his better games this season against the Bengals, as well as Dorsey's contributions.
Without Arnold and Dorsey, the Lions will now have to lean on the likes of Rock Ya-Sin, Avonte Maddox, Tre Flowers, Nick Whiteside, and Robertson. Ya-Sin and Robertson played somewhat well in Week 5, posting 72.1 and 68.9 coverage grades, according to Pro Football Focus.
Nevertheless, Ya-Sin gave up four receptions (six targets) for 39 yards and a TD, while Robertson allowed eight receptions (11 targets) for 104 yards (32 yards after catch), against a Bengals’ offense that still had Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but no Joe Burrow throwing the ball.
Can you imagine what Patrick Mahomes and Chiefs head coach Andy Reid could do next week against this battered and bruised Lions’ secondary? Kansas City has three receivers (Tyquan Thornton, Hollywood Brown, and Xavier Worthy) who can take the top of the defense with their speed, while Travis Kelce and Brashard Smith can contribute as pass-catchers, too.
And not to mention, Kansas City also has Juju Smith-Schuster as an adequate possession wide receiver, who can find an open spot in the zone, while the Lions worry about trying to keep up with Worthy, Brown, or Thornton.
The Chiefs’ offense couldn’t have asked for a better matchup next weekend, as they should have the chance for multiple explosive plays. But first things first: Reid & Co. must get past the Jaguars on Monday.