The Detroit Lions earned a 34-10 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday afternoon, but it came at the cost of cornerback D.J. Reed. Reed left the win in the fourth quarter after covering a deep target to Browns receiver Jerry Jeudy, and his injury set off a full alarm for a secondary that has valued his leadership on and off the field.
Although head coach Dan Campbell told reporters on Monday that Reed avoided a season-ending injury, Kory Woods of MLive confirmed that Reed will be “down for a while.” Woods also reported that Campbell expects they will need help at cornerback for practice in Reed’s absence, which could lead to a reunion with former Detroit cornerback Emmanuel Moseley.
Lions Could Ease Secondary Woes by Reuniting with Emmanuel Moseley
Moseley spent the last two seasons with the Lions, but if you blinked, you probably missed it. He appeared in three games for Detroit, logging 29 total special teams snaps late last season, but had more extensive experience on defense with the San Francisco 49ers when he appeared in 45 games, tallying four interceptions and 33 pass defenses.
A player who hasn’t had extensive defensive experience since 2022 is probably not someone the Lions want to put on the field. But there would be some benefits to bringing Moseley back. After spending two years in Detroit, he knows the basics of the system, which have pretty much been passed down from ex-defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to current DC Kelvin Sheppard. He could also be an emergency player in case injuries ravage the secondary, as they did one year ago with Amik Robertson and Carlton Davis suffering season-ending injuries.
The situation isn’t as dire as it was one year ago, but the Lions could still use the help. Terrion Arnold has not taken the second-year leap that some believed he would make during training camp. Robertson stepped up before breaking his forearm in the playoffs last year and has already taken a step toward doing the same in the wake of Reed’s injury. Taking him out of the nickel role would be another area the Lions would have to find a replacement.
A signing would also have benefits to Moseley, who, at age 29, could be looking for a final shot at the NFL. Landing with a former team is a good way to make that happen, and it could be as simple as an addition to the practice squad to get back into a team facility.
Reed’s injury is a big blow for the Lions' secondary, but it could turn out to be a positive if they reunite with Moseley.