In 2023 free agency, the Detroit Lions took a one-year flier on cornerback Emmanuel Moseley. He was coming off a torn ACL the previous season with the San Francisco 49ers, but there wasn't a whole lot of question that he'd be ready for Week 1. If not then, than very early in the season.
Then came a report he needed a second procedure on his knee, and he added a hamstring issue to the mix as a further setback. Moseley did not make his Lions' debut until Week 5 last season.
Two snaps into that debut, Moseley tore his other ACL. Talk about a brutal turn of event.
The Lions re-signed Moseley to another one-year deal last March. He was occupying a prominent role in early training camp practices, then he suffered a torn pectoral. He made his 2024 season debut in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts, playing 15 special teams snaps.
What was eventually revealed to be a hamstring injury during pregame warmups sidelined Moseley for Week 13. Then he was a healthy scratch in Week 14 and 15.
Heading into Week 16, here's what head coach Dan Campbell said about Moseley, presumably referring to the pectoral injury (?).
"This is the best week he’s had since he’s come back from the injury,” Campbell said. “I just think he looks so much more comfortable, he’s moving around well, and it’s been really two great days for him.”
Moseley played 14 special teams snaps that Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Then he did not play at all in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers. He was held out of practice this entire week due to an illness, and on Friday he was declared out for Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Lions' flier on Emmanuel Moseley simply didn't work out
On Saturday, amid some very good news in a flurry of roster moves (Alex Anzalone and Kalif Raymond activated from IR), the Lions put Moseley on the Reserve/Non-Football Illness list.
#Lions announce roster moves:
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 4, 2025
Placed CB Emmanuel Moseley on Reserve/Non-Football Illness list.
Activated WR Kalif Raymond and LB Alex Anzalone from Reserved/Injured.
Signed DB Morice Norris to the Active Roster from the Practice Squad.
Signed WR Tom Kennedy to the Practice…
Moseley's 2024 season is almost surely over, since he has to remain on the NFI list for at least four weeks. His contract also expires after the season, and the Lions are unlikely to bring him back.
Major injuries, and some more minor nagging ones, led to the Lions getting a total of 31 snaps (29 special teams snaps) from Moseley over two seasons. It's not his fault, and the team didn't make a massive mistake with a bad contract.
The Lions took virtually no risk with Moseley, hoping he'd be healthy enough to be a factor each time they signed him. Things went dramatically the other direction when it was all said and done, and, as happens sometimes, it'll go down as a flier that never came close to bearing fruit.