The Lions are giving a player suspended for gambling violations a second chance

ALLEN PARK – After a one-year suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy, safety CJ Moore is getting a second chance in Detroit, signing a one-year deal with the Lions, according to NFL Network.

Moore originally joined the Lions in 2019 and developed into one of the league’s best special teams players over the next four years, including serving as the trigger man on some memorable fake punts after Dan Campbell took over. He was rewarded last offseason with a nice two-year contract worth $4.5 million and $3 million in guarantees.

Exactly a month later, the league announced that it had discovered that Moore and receiver Quintez Cephus were suspended indefinitely for betting on NFL games, while receivers Jameson Williams and Stanley Berryhill were suspended for six games because They had bet on non-NFL games at a league facility.

Moore and Cephus were immediately released by Detroit, while Berryhill was released a short time later. Williams’ suspension was later reduced to four games and he finished last season with 24 catches for 354 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games. He also scored two goals in the NFC Championship game in San Francisco.

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Moore and Cephus were reinstated into the league last month and Cephus quickly landed with the Buffalo Bills. Now Moore also has a new home, right back in Detroit.

The reunion will be welcomed in Detroit. Moore was loved by Campbell and the locker room for his ability to contribute on all special teams while also holding down every position in the secondary. He will provide much-needed depth at safety, where only Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Brandon Joseph – who has never played a defensive snap in the NFL – were under contract.