When meeting with media on Monday, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell hinted that the next 48 hours would be especially difficult, as they needed to finalize their 53-man roster before Tuesday’s cut deadline.
As things got begun, there was some clarity on two individuals in particular.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Lions will place cornerback Emmanuel Moseley on injured reserve. Additionally, rookie offensive lineman Christian Mahogany will remain on the Non-Football Illness list.
Moseley has suffered numerous significant injuries since moving to Detroit. While he began this year’s training camp in good shape and ready to contribute, he sustained a torn pectoral muscle during the first of two joint practices with the New York Giants, ruling him out indefinitely at the time.
Moseley, in his first season in Detroit, was coming off a torn left ACL sustained in 2022 while playing for the San Francisco 49ers. Because of the severity, he started the season on the physically unable to perform list. Several plays into his Lions debut, Moseley had another ACL injury, this time in his right leg. Interestingly, the back-to-back ACL injuries occurred during Week 5 versus the Carolina Panthers.
While it is uncertain how long Moseley will be out, he is eligible to return this season. According to the league’s new regulations, NFL teams can place up to two players on injured reserve before roster cuts and consider them eligible to return. Previously, players placed on injured reserve prior to roster cuts were either lost for the season or had to be released with an injury settlement before returning to the squad.
Meanwhile, Mahogany has been out of action for the whole training camp. He missed the first three weeks due to illness and has only lately returned to the facility. He’ll be eligible to return after the first four games.
Based on the Lions’ schedule, Mahogany might make his Lions debut against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 6, barring any delays. The Lions selected Mahogany in the sixth round of this year’s NFL draft from Boston College.