Detroit Lions rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold received a strong message from Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp following their Week 1 matchup. Despite a mixed debut performance, Arnold took away a positive experience from his first regular-season NFL game.
Arnold, a first-round pick, faced both ups and downs in his debut against the Rams on September 8. The 21-year-old made several good plays but also committed two costly pass interference penalties. These mistakes provided Arnold with valuable lessons, especially since he was frequently matched up against the talented 2021 All-Pro receiver, Kupp. After the game, Kupp offered Arnold words of encouragement, recognizing his potential.
Reflecting on the experience, Arnold spoke to reporters, saying, “Cooper Kupp is a great player. So, me guarding him — even after the game, [I went] up to him, and he was like, ‘Yeah, you one of those ones.’” Kupp led the Rams’ offense in the second half, helping his team score 17 consecutive points. He finished with 14 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. Despite Kupp’s impressive performance, he left the field with respect for Arnold, who recorded 8 solo tackles, ranking third on the Detroit defense for the game.
Arnold’s Costly Penalties
The Rams capitalized on Arnold’s two pass interference penalties, scoring two touchdowns and a field goal on three straight drives in the second half. Arnold’s first foul occurred while defending Kupp on third-and-6 at the Lions’ 11-yard line late in the third quarter. Arnold had briefly left the game three plays earlier due to an injury but returned to the field just in time for the penalty, which moved the Rams to the Lions’ 2-yard line.
The second infraction occurred on a pass from Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford into the end zone from the Lions’ 18-yard line, bringing the Rams to the 1-yard line. Despite these setbacks, the Detroit defense managed to limit the Rams to a field goal on that possession. Nonetheless, Arnold expressed disappointment in his mistakes, stating, “I hold myself to a high standard, so I felt like those kind of hurt our team a little bit. But I take full accountability for it. I’m going to get to the drawing board and get better.”
Coach Dan Campbell’s Take on Arnold’s Penalties
Lions head coach Dan Campbell addressed Arnold’s penalties during his postgame press conference. While acknowledging the impact of the penalties, Campbell emphasized that he was not overly concerned. He said he would review the game film to see if there were any coaching points he could provide to Arnold but stressed his desire for Arnold to maintain his aggressive style of play.
“I didn’t feel like it was some blatant like, ‘Oh he is out, bad position or I need to talk to him about it.’ I don’t want to take away his stinger, man,” Campbell explained. “I want him to play aggressively, and I thought he did some really good things today. [It was] certainly not too big for him. He stepped up.”
Arnold’s Playing Time and Role
Arnold played 76 out of Detroit’s 78 defensive snaps in Week 1, only missing two plays due to his brief exit following an injury. Veteran cornerback Carlton Davis was the only Lions outside cornerback to play more defensive snaps than Arnold, while linebacker Alex Anzalone and slot cornerback Brian Branch were the only other Lions defenders with more snaps.
Arnold’s performance showed both promise and areas for improvement. While his penalties were costly, his willingness to learn from his mistakes and his positive attitude after receiving encouragement from a top opponent like Kupp suggests he could become a valuable asset for the Lions moving forward.
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