Terrion

Arnold

ESPN’s Xuan Thai first reported the news. The ruling by a Florida judge on Friday allows the free agent cornerback to visit NFL teams as he looks for a new contract following his release by the Lions last month. Arnold was being held after turning himself in following a kidnapping and robbery incident in the Tampa area in February 2026. He visited with the Texans Thursday and is now free to continue his search for a new home, with the expectation that he’ll garner tangible interest on the open market.

According to Schefter, Arnold is scheduled to visit with two more teams next week. Whether or not a team would sign Arnold while he awaits his trial for the multiple felonies he’s facing that relate to a February robbery and kidnapping is to be determined, but it doesn’t appear his attorney was bluffing when he said last week that multiple teams have already reached out to him. Arnold was waived by the Lions on June 29th and became an outright free agent after going unclaimed on waivers. The 23-year-old corner has appeared in 24 games in his career, totaling 91 tackles, 18 pass breakups, and one interception.

Arnold is facing a mountain of legal issues in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping that took place in Tampa Bay. It comes as no surprise that he cleared waivers, and according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter the 2024 first-round pick “is expected to visit NFL teams that have expressed interest in signing him.” Arnold’s lawyer came out last week and said at least three teams have already expressed interest in signing him, but we would be surprised if any deal got done before his case is completely behind him.

Steinberg claimed this in his written opposition to the prosecution’s motion to require Arnold to wear an ankle monitor while on home confinement ahead of his trial. That, of course, would prevent him from being with another team. Arnold is facing multiple felony charges after being arrested in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping in Tampa Bay. It’s hard to believe multiple teams are willing to sign Arnold given the charges levied against him, and it’s possible the court doesn’t even allow him to travel to those teams. The NFL can also step in and place him on the commissioner’s exempt list, so we would be shocked if he plays football anytime soon.

Just hours after it was announced that Arnold’s bond would be set for $1 million, the Lions have opted to part ways with the former No. 24 overall pick. Arnold will now go on waivers, where he will presumably go unclaimed, and is likely to remain unsigned while he works through his legal issues. He is facing multiple felonies, which include four counts of kidnapping and assault, and could be sentenced to up to life in prison if convicted. Arnold has appeared in 24 regular season games in his two seasons with the Lions, totaling 91 tackles, one interception, and 18 pass breakups.

Arnold will post bond and appears set to join the Lions when training camp opens next month. The 23-year-old corner was arrested last week for his connection to a robbery and kidnapping in Tampa that took place in February, which he denies having any involvement with. The court, which did find probable cause for the charges against Arnold, also declined to impose an ankle bracelet on him as a condition of his release. It’s possible Arnold lands on the Commissioner’s Exempt List while he awaits trial, but the league will likely reserve any disciplinary action until after his case is settled in court.

The Hillsborough County State Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday it will file charges against Arnold “following his arrest in connection with a February robbery and kidnapping in Tampa.” The charges carry a potential sentence of up to life in prison. The NFL will likely wait for the investigation to conclude before conducting their own investigation, though the charges are serious enough to where Arnold has a chance of not returning to the league. Arnold made a statement via his PR rep saying he “categorically denies any involvement in the matter.” He voluntarily surrendered to a warrant and two other defendants pleaded guilty Wednesday. Headed for the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List, Arnold faces arrest with multiple felony charges.

Arnold had a rough time in 2025. He injured his shoulder in Week 5 and sat out in Weeks 6-8. He returned for Weeks 9-10, but then suffered a concussion. He cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol in Week 13, but managed to aggravate his shoulder injury in-game and was shut down for the rest of the year. He participated in walkthroughs for 30 minutes today, marking his first official practice participation this offseason. His reps are still being managed but this is a good first step.

Arnold re-injured his shoulder in the Lions’ Thanksgiving game against the Packers and will undergo season-ending surgery in the coming days, per Pelissero. He had tried to play through the injury after hurting his shoulder in Week 5. The Lions secondary will take a hit with Arnold sidelined. Detroit has allowed the NFL’s seventh lowest drop backs success rate in 2025.

Arnold suffered a shoulder injury in Week 13’s loss to the Packers and will now miss at least the next four games as a result. The second-year corner has appeared in eight games this season while making seven starts, and registered his first career interception in Week 9 against the Vikings. Arnold has allowed just 23 receptions on 41 targets this season, per PFF, earning a coverage grade of 53.8.