Veteran Lions CB Can’t Contain His Smile After Receiving Another Opportunity in Detroit.
Emmanuel Moseley spoke with reporters after Friday’s training camp practice, and the Detroit Lions cornerback couldn’t help but smile, and for good reason.
Moseley is back on the field after enduring two consecutive season-ending ACL injuries. The first injury ended his 2022 season with the San Francisco 49ers, and the second occurred after he played just two snaps in his first game back with the Lions last year.
Not only is Moseley thankful to be back on an NFL field after his challenging recovery journey, but he also feels emotional about the Lions giving him a second chance to prove himself.
“Dude, it’s amazing. After two ACLs, it’s tough,” Moseley told MLive. “It’s definitely not easy to come back from. But for this team to give me another chance and believe in me means a lot. I almost get emotional talking about it. You just have to have gratitude that you can even step on the field again.
“I just want to prove myself. This team took a chance on me last year. I know what type of player I am, so I want to get back to that level and show everyone what I can do.”
When healthy, Moseley has been a reliable coverage cornerback throughout his career. Although his injury history has caused him to be overlooked, he is confident he can return to the level expected of him.
Moseley has participated in several snaps as a slot cornerback during the first three days of camp. It will be interesting to see how this rotation develops, but the veteran has been effective when given opportunities to blitz closer to the line of scrimmage.
He understands that the Lions have versatility throughout their defensive backfield, so he’s ready to play wherever the coaches need him—inside or outside. Moseley also has slot experience from his time with the 49ers, so he’s focused on adapting to the Lions’ expectations.
“I’ve played a bit, learned a lot, and gained some experience,” Moseley said. “But I’m also learning from the guys out there right now and meeting with the coaches. It’s not an easy position to learn, but I know I can handle it.
“I think the competition in the defensive backfield breeds excellence. If you don’t have a lot of players competing, it probably won’t go well. But we have a strong DB room this year, and everyone is competing while also celebrating each other’s success. That’s a big part of it.”
As one of the most experienced players on the team’s defense, Moseley’s presence will be invaluable, especially with two highly drafted rookies and a young group competing for spots in the secondary. He praised rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. for bringing the right mix of confidence, mentality, and swagger to the field early on.
“It’s just a confident group that brings a lot of swagger,” Moseley said. “Once we step on the field, we feel like we’re the best. But we’re also humble enough to accept criticism in the meeting room and improve the next day.
“They’re great guys. I’ve noticed that TA (Arnold) is probably the most confident, humble person I know. He has a lot of confidence, and his swagger on the field is impressive. But he’s also humble and eager to learn in the meeting room. They’re both doing a great job and contributing on special teams. They understand what it takes to win.”
