Detroit Lions to activate Emmanuel Moseley off PUP, eligible to play Week 1 vs. Chiefs
The Detroit Lions are getting one of the top cornerbacks back on the field, just in time for the regular season.
The Lions activated cornerback Emmanuel Moseley from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man roster Tuesday, one of 25 moves they made at the roster deadline.
Moseley tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last fall while with the San Francisco 49ers and opened training camp on the PUP list after he underwent a surprise follow-up procedure this summer. He was ticketed for a starting job after signing a one-year free agent deal with the Lions, but will have to work his way back into the playing group with Cam Sutton and Jerry Jacobs.
Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday the team was meeting to discuss a plan of action for Moseley, who would have been required to miss at least the first four games had he opened the year on PUP.
"He’s close," Campbell said Monday. "He’s doing well."
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With nine days and four practices until the Lions' regular season opener Sept. 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Moseley might be hard-pressed to an impact Week 1.
The Lions have more depth and better talent than they had in their secondary in either of Campbell's first two seasons as head coach, but finished training camp light at outside cornerback.
Sutton, another free agent addition, and Jacobs are expected to start, with rookie Brian Branch playing slot cornerback and C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Kerby Joseph at safety.
The Lions kept 11 defensive backs on their initial roster, with undrafted rookie Steven Gilmore, converted safety Will Harris and special teams standout Khalil Dorsey playing backup roles at cornerback.
Starling Thomas V, another undrafted rookie who spent most of the summer working with the second-team defense, was among those waived.
Moseley was a starter most of the past four seasons for the 49ers, where he had four interceptions and 33 pass breakups. He's played more than 12 games in a season just once in his career.
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions to activate Emmanuel Moseley off PUP
