Emmanuel Moseley's return could be huge for Lions' defense on short week

The Detroit Lions are facing a small crisis of injury and timing in Week 13, having to play the Chicago Bears Thursday after a physical game on the road against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12 brought a dose of the injury bug.

With Terrion Arnold out against the Colts with a groin injury and Carlton Davis leaving the game with a knee injury, Khalil Dorsey and Kindle Vildor were forced into action. Arnold was listed as a full participant on Monday's estimated practice report, but Davis' status for Thanksgiving Day is a big question.

There is good news, though. Emmanuel Moseley made his season debut against the Colts, after starting out IR due to a pectoral injury in August. He play strictly on special teams (15 snaps), but it was a big step for Moseley after suffering a torn ACL in back-to-back seasons (including last year with the Lions, two snaps into his team debut).

Dan Campbell praises Emmanuel Moseley's Week 12 return

While he only played special teams, Moseley's return is good for the defense moving forward. Head coach Dan Campbell understands what he can bring to the mix.

"That was big for him to be able (to play)", Campbell said. "I mean, he really hadn't played in two years and to be able to go out there and know that 'okay, I can trust this. I can trust my body.' He went out there, competed (and) did a good job on special teams for us. But yeah, I think he's ready. I think he's ready and we're not afraid to use him."

With that confirmation, it seems that Moseley will get plenty of run this week, especially with the Lions facing short-term injury problems at corner. For a player who seemed to have lost his grip on a role in Detroit it's a credit to staying in the fight, and Moseley more or less said exactly that to Ben Raven of MLive on Monday,

"It’s a blessing to be out there and just being out there with my brothers running around, mainly coming out of the game healthy. That was huge,” Moseley said. “It’s been two years since I’ve accomplished that. It was great."

“A guy that has been through as many injuries as I’ve been through, a lot of teams would have given up on them already", Moseley said. "And this staff has stuck with me and continued to stick with me. It just gives me belief in myself. It’s just amazing that they still care about me and still want me around. When I go on the field, I try to give them my all and repay them back.”

Moseley's re-emergence looks extra valuable for the Lions with their quickest turnaround between games this season.