Detroit Lions lose 2 Alabama alumni to injuries at 1 practice
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said running back Jahmyr Gibbs and cornerback Terrion Arnold are “going to be fine” after the players left the field with injuries at training camp on Monday night.
The Lions acquired the players from Alabama in consecutive years in the first round of the NFL Draft, with Gibbs the 12th selection in 2023 and Arnold the 24th choice in 2024.
NFL teams are not required to provide injury information during the preseason. Reports indicate Gibbs sustained a hamstring injury and Arnold a pectoral injury.
“Immediately, two days ago, my phone’s blowing up,” Campbell said Wednesday during an appearance on “Costa and Jansen with Heather” on WXYT-FM in Detroit. “I got all these people hitting me up about, ‘Man, what happened to Gibbs! Oh my God, TA! It’s done.’ All these reports are out. And I’m like, ‘OK.’ So anyway, I think we’re going to be fine here, all right? I think we’ll be good.”
Gibbs went to the Pro Bowl as a rookie after he ran for 945 yards and 10 touchdowns on 182 carries and caught 52 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown in 15 regular-season games and helped Detroit reached the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1991 season.
Gibbs did not play in the Lions’ preseason opener on Thursday night, but Arnold started in Detroit’s 14-3 loss to the New York Giants. Arnold was on the field for the first three possessions for the New York offense and did not record any stats on 13 snaps.
The Lions started their 2024 second-round selection, Ennis Rakestraw of Missouri, at the other cornerback spot against the Giants. Rakestraw also left Monday night’s practice because of a ankle injury.
“TA’s been having a good camp before he got hurt the other day,” Campbell said. “Ennis is having a good camp.”
Detroit has practiced this week without another cornerback, too, with former Auburn standout Carlton Davis dealing with a hamstring injury.
“Carlton is good,” Campbell said. “He’s got this hammy he’s dealing with, but he’ll be fine.”
The Lions resume their preseason schedule against the Kansas City Chiefs at 3 p.m. CDT Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. NFL Network will televise the game.
Detroit kicks off its regular-season schedule with a home game against the Los Angeles Rams at 7:20 p.m. Sept. 8 in the first Sunday night game of the 2024 campaign.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.