Seahawks cornerback Terrion Arnold begins the 2026 season on paid leave because of eight felony charges stemming from an armed robbery and alleged kidnapping. And while he can’t practice or play, Arnold is with the team.
“He’s in the building and he’s part of our program and he’s learning the hell out of our defense,” coach Mike Macdonald told reporters Saturday about Arnold. “Keep training and be ready when you can.”
It is not yet known when an opportunity will arise. Generally, players on the Commissioners’ Suspended List due to criminal charges remain there until the case is resolved and discipline, if any, is imposed by the league. But the NFL has deviated from this approach in the past; in 2024, then-Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers spent seven games on paid leave, returning before his case went to trial. (He was acquitted of the domestic battery charge in January 2025.)
Arnold’s next court date is October 5. A trial has not been scheduled. Barring a plea deal, it’s unlikely Arnold’s case will end before the end of the 2026 season.
The big question is whether the league will stick with its general approach that players will remain on paid leave until the case is over, or whether the league will allow Arnold to return at some point later in the season.
