It has been a long wait for Emmanuel Moseley to return to the football field but he's ready to make his mark again.

The Detroit Lions cornerback has spent nearly the last two years injured and unable to play after suffering an ACL tear on just his second snap of the 2023 season. His time with the Lions seemed to be over as quickly as it started after signing a one-year deal coming off his first ACL tear as a member of the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. But despite the fact he was barely a contributor for the Lions in his first season, Detroit's decision-makers took another flyer on Moseley with another one-year deal for 2024.

And Moseley, a healthy participant in training camp from Day 1, is doing what he can to make the most of the second chance with the Lions.

"It's amazing," Moseley said while smiling as wide as possible. "After two ACLs, like I said it's tough. It is definitely not easy to come back from but for this team to give me another chance and believe in me — it means a lot. I almost get emotional talking about it but you just got to have gratitude that you can even touch the field again."

Moseley says he is back to himself after he rehabbed for his second ACL tear in as many years. He is ready to contribute at cornerback, whether inside at nickelback or on the outside in a more traditional role.

"I feel pretty good," Moseley said. "(It's been) almost a year and a half of really not playing. (I'm) just going back out there and trying to find myself and trying to get back in my groove but I feel pretty good."

Moseley was one of the additions made by the Lions ahead of the 2023 season to try to re-haul their struggling secondary, with the team also adding since-released cornerback Cam Sutton. The additions did not have the desired effect as the Lions were consistently among the worst passing defense units in the league again.

Moseley had to sit at home and watch the Lions have one of the most successful seasons in franchise history in spite of some of the defensive struggles in the secondary, including watching the NFC championship game against the 49ers, his former team, which he described as a "very hard" watch.

He's put all of that is in the rearview mirror now as he focuses on staying healthy and contributing where he can for the Lions.

"It feels phenomenal to be back out here because I know that I can be a part of that," Moseley said. "I just want to bring whatever I can bring to this team. Whatever the coaches ask me, I'm going to do it to the best of my ability and just be the best teammate that I can."

Finding his spot on D

On Monday, head coach Dan Campbell explained the coaching staff's thought process of trying to find the right combinations of players of defense given the additions on the defensive line and in the secondary and trying to weave them in with returners.

One of those names Campbell brought up was Moseley and trying to find a spot for him in the defense because of the skill set he brings. After those conversations, coaches landed on seeing what Moseley could provide as a nickel cornerback.

"If you're trying to find a way to use your best lineup potentially as a starting point, what would you do with Moseley?" Campbell asked rhetorically. "And there was an argument, we went back and forth; Do you put him outside? Do you put him inside as a starting point? We know he can go outside and compete, but let's give him a chance inside and see where it goes."

Moseley primarily played as an outside cornerback when he played for the 49ers but took some snaps lining up in the slot. So far in training camp, that has been his primary position and he has worked lining up against tight ends, running backs and receivers while also being a threat to blitz off the edge.

Campbell said the competition at all of the secondary spots, nickel corner included, are up for grabs during training camp battles. Moseley has been rotating in the slot primarily along with free-agent acquisition Amik Robertson and second-round rookie Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

"It's not an easy position to learn but it is one I know I can attack," Moseley said.

Though the competition is for a starting position in the secondary, Robertson said all of the players working at nickel are helping each other with the nuances of the role while being in competition.

WELL THAT IS EXCITING: Jameson Williams is the early breakout player of Detroit Lions' camp: Let the hype begin

"It's been smooth, man," Robertson said. "Me, Rake (Rakestraw), Moseley — we are helping each other. We understand it's a competition. When you understand your role and you understand what's going on, you try to do whatever you can to help."

The competition in the secondary will only help the team improve, Moseley said, as general manager Brad Holmes predicted after the 2024 NFL draft when he said it would be a "bloodbath" for playing time in the secondary.

"I think it breeds excellence," Moseley said. "I mean, if you don't got a DB room rolling with a lot of players in there that could compete, it's probably not going to be a really good DB room. But I think we have that this year and everyone is out there competing. Not only are we competing, we are celebrating with each other. We're happy for each other's success."

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Emmanuel Moseley thankful for return to Detroit Lions after ACL tears