Dan Campbell, head coach of the Detroit Lions, recently singled out rookie cornerback Terrion Arnold for his improved performance as the season nears its end.

While Campbell often highlights players after games, his praise for Arnold following the Lions’ Week 14 victory over the Green Bay Packers stood out.

Campbell referred to Arnold’s performance as his best of the season.

At first glance, Arnold’s stats against Green Bay may not seem impressive: he recorded just three tackles, allowed two receptions for nine yards on two targets in coverage, and picked up his seventh pass interference penalty of the season.

However, Campbell pointed out that this penalty was his first since Week 10 and only his second since Week 4, signaling an improvement in discipline.

The Lions’ overall coverage against the Packers was also a point of pride for Campbell. He highlighted how well the team played in man-to-man coverage, calling it “sticky,” and acknowledging a few mistakes but noting that the defense held up well.

Statistically, the Lions allowed just 2.9 yards of separation per pass attempt against Green Bay, a mark that ranked among the best in the league for the week.

As the NFL season heads into its final weeks, many rookies struggle as they hit the infamous “rookie wall.” However, some players push through and improve.

Campbell mentioned several players, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Alim McNeill, and Penei Sewell, who have shown significant development in their second half of the rookie year. He believes Arnold is now following in their footsteps.

Campbell said, “I feel like that’s where Arnold’s at.

He’s starting to push through this and is gaining enough valuable reps. He’s not letting the grind of the season wear him down, and he’s getting better.”

Arnold’s progress is particularly impressive given how much responsibility he has taken on in his first season.

He has played 92% of the Lions’ defensive snaps through 12 games, missing only Week 12. This heavy workload would have been even higher had the Lions not been involved in a few blowout victories.

Arnold’s role on defense, especially in man coverage, is crucial.

The Lions often ask their cornerbacks to cover receivers one-on-one, and Arnold has logged the most man coverage snaps of any cornerback in the league through Week 14.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), he has allowed 21 completions on 42 targets, for 245 yards and one touchdown.

He has also broken up two passes and allowed a passer rating of 76.0 when targeted. Despite being thrown into challenging situations, Arnold has held his ground and performed well.

Additionally, Arnold’s early struggles with penalties seem to be behind him.

His discipline has improved significantly, and Campbell believes this marks the start of a strong finish to his rookie campaign.

The Lions’ coaching staff is optimistic that Arnold’s continued growth will lead to even better performances down the stretch.

In summary, although Arnold’s Week 14 performance wasn’t eye-catching on paper, his development over the course of the season is undeniable.

With Campbell’s confidence in his trajectory and the heavy workload he’s handled, it’s clear that Arnold is turning a corner as his rookie season winds down.

The Lions are hopeful that the best is yet to come for their young cornerback.