Booger McFarland torches Terrion Arnold amid Lions vs. 49ers MNF shootout

Detroit Lions (13-2) cornerback Terrion Arnold had a rough showing in the first half of the Monday Night Football contest against the San Francisco 49ers (6-9) and it did not go unnoticed.

After allowing a 40-yard completion over his head to 49ers wideout Ricky Pearsall, ESPN analyst Booger McFarland called him out on social media.

“0 [Arnold] is a liability,” McFarland wrote on X.

Before giving up the big play to Pearsall, Arnold found himself involved in skirmish during the first quarter. With San Francisco working near Detroit’s goal line, 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings finished a block on Arnold prompting safety Kerby Joseph to defend his rookie teammate.

Jennings blocked Arnold through the back of the end zone, the two players going to the ground together. Jennings rose to his feet and was immediately greeted with a shove from Joseph, who put him back on his keister. Arnold then came over and swiped at Jennings’ helmet.

Terrion Arnold having up-and-down rookie season with Lions

Arnold, taken in the first round (24th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Alabama, has been a regular starter over the course of the season for Detroit. He came into Week 17 with 52 tackles (40 solo), nine passes defended and a fumble recovery. Arnold is still looking for his first career interception. Arnold has struggled in coverage, grading out as Pro Football Focus‘ 189th cornerback this season with a 48.8 grade.

“My biggest adjustment has just been trusting myself looking for the ball,” Arnold told SB Nation earlier this season. “At first, a couple of them–actually, [head coach] Dan [Campbell] came up to me after my Arizona penalty and was like, ‘The league has actually put in the rulebook that when you look back for a ball, receivers can’t jump into you.’

So, a couple of them I had, those were arguably not pass interference. But I look at it like–even [defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn] AG was telling me–look at it from a point of view where if you’re getting a pass interference, that means you’re there.”