Eager to put his face in the fan, Lions' Moseley takes first practice reps at nickel

Justin Rogers | Detroit Football Network

Allen Park – The storyline possibilities the first day of training camp are endless, but there was one player I wanted to talk to above all others as the Detroit Lions exited the field Wednesday morning: Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley. 

Moseley has been through the wringer, physically and emotionally, the past two years. He suffered a torn ACL in 2022, then had a setback after joining the Lions as a free agent last offseason, delaying his debut until early October. And in what should have been his triumphant return to action, he lasted two snaps before shredding his other knee. 

Brutal.

Catching up at the end of last season, Moseley was in good spirits, even though he lacked clarity about his future. Remember, he had only signed a one-year contract to come to Detroit. But his continued commitment to his teammates through the early stages of his second rehab made a strong impression on the team's decision-makers, leading to a re-upping this March. 

"It's definitely a blessing," Moseley said. "After last year, it could have been up in the air, I didn't know. They came and talked to me toward the end of the season and said, 'Hey, we're definitely thinking about re-signing you. We love you. It's unfortunate what happened, but we believe in you.' That felt great, and that's why I signed early. I feel like this is the team for me because they believe in me. They believed in me after the first (ACL tear) and still believing in me after the second one, that says a lot."

Having the experience of previously going through the rehab, Moseley had a better sense of when to push through pain and when to dial it back. He also feels having the stability of being treated by a single training staff aided the process. This time there were no setbacks.

But what would his role be, especially after the team traded for Carlton Davis III, signed Amik Robertson and drafted Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw? Projected to be a starting cornerback when he signed in 2023, a backup role on the outside seemed more likely for Moseley this season, especially with Arnold proving to be a quick study in his first few months in Detroit. 

But the Lions threw a curve on the first day of camp, days after Moseley got medically cleared to participate in practice. Instead of working outside, Moseley spent the day handling nickel duties. 

It's not foreign territory, but it's been a few years. As a young player with the 49ers, the team that signed him as an undrafted rookie in 2018, Moseley got his first real taste of defending the slot. And even though he didn't stick there long, he found an affinity for the physicality and quick reactions the position requires. 

"That's really how I made the team those years is being able to play both nickel and (outside) corner," Moseley said. "Played nickel a few games, started getting the hang of it and started loving it. Then they switched me outside and I did pretty good there, but it gave me the confidence that I could play both. Playing both lets me learn the defense, in and out. If I can play both, I'm going to learn it faster and be able to contribute more."

Whether this becomes a permanent change or the Lions continue to shuffle the deck once Brian Branch, last year's starting nickel, and Amik Robertson, who filled in at the spot during the early portion of the offseason program, comes off the non-football injury list, remains to be seen. Moseley, like many veterans, is content to line up wherever he's needed, but he wouldn't mind staying inside. 

"At the nickel, you're in that run game and I'm a physical player," he said. "I like to hit. That's one of my things, I like to put my face in the fan and make people feel me. That's what I love about nickel."