Not long ago, Emmanuel Moseley looked like a long-shot to play in the Lions' season opener against the Chiefs. Not anymore.
The Lions are activating Moseley from the Physically Unable to Perform list ahead of Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline to set their 53-man roster, according to ESPN. The veteran cornerback, who underwent a second procedure this offseason on the torn ACL he suffered last October, will thus be on Detroit's active roster and eligible to play next Thursday in Kansas City.
Moseley, 27, signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Lions this offseason after four strong seasons with the 49ers. The plan was for Moseley to start at outside corner opposite fellow free agent acquisition Cameron Sutton, but that would be a lot to ask next week. For now, the CB2 job likely still belongs to Jerry Jacobs, who played well in camp.
Moseley will need some time to get into football shape as he's yet to actually practice with the Lions. But this is a good sign for his status moving forward. He was non-committal about when he might be ready when asked earlier this month, saying "I don't know exactly when I'll be out there." And Dan Campbell said a couple weeks later that "it's probably going to be a little bit longer than what we hoped for."
Turns out, Moseley will be in uniform for his first game with his new team. And the Lions will be eager to unleash him in their rebuilt secondary. Moseley had 16 passes defended in his last 16 games with the 49ers and held quarterbacks to a passer rating of 66.01 over the last two seasons.
Between the additions to the back of Detroit's defense, including free agent C.J. Gardner-Johnson and second-round pick Brian Branch, and returners like Jacobs, Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker, the defensive backs room is suddenly one of the deepest on the roster.
"There's great talent," said Moseley. "We got a lot of playmakers back there, a lot of confident guys. I think this could be a really good room."
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