During dark days of suspension, C.J. Moore had dreams of returning to Lions

C.J. Moore faced some dark days last season, and he only had himself to blame. Suspended by the NFL for a year for violating the league's gambling policy, Moore sat at home and wondered if he'd ever play again. He watched the team with whom he'd endured so much losing finally reap the rewards of winning. As happy as he was for his former teammates in Detroit, it came with "a feeling like I should have been there," said Moore.

"That was the tough part," he said.

Moore was released by the Lions shortly after his gambling suspension came down last offseason. He spent most of the next year fearing that he wouldn't get a second chance: "There was times where, I mean, it was tough. There was a lot of uncertainty."

Moore said he dreamed about the Lions bringing him back. He had emerged from the rubble of the Matt Patricia era to become a key special-teams player under Dan Campbell, helping the team start to turn the corner in 2022. His dreams were more like visions: Shortly after Moore was reinstated by the NFL in April, the Lions reached out to his agent and signed him to a one-year deal.

"It's like a dream, man," said Moore, who originally signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2019. "Honestly, I had dreams about this. And I'm so thankful for one, God. Just thankful to be here. I'm thankful for Mrs. Sheila (Ford Hamp) and Brad (Holmes) and coach Dan and Rod (Wood), so thankful for those guys. Got No. 38 back. Man, it's super exciting and just ready to compete and have fun."

Moore, 28, doesn't hide from his mistake. He said he "knew the rules" against gambling on NFL action and "I just failed to hold myself accountable." Nor does he look for excuses. He said nothing lulled him into placing bets other than "being immature" and "losing control of being aware of exactly what I was doing. Just a careless mistake."

"I shouldn't have been gambling in the first place or anything like that," Moore said. "It was just a failure to educate myself fully and be aware of everything about the policy. I came up short in that area. I know the ins and outs of it now."

The veteran safety is more than happy to pass that knowledge on to his younger teammates, if they ask. It's one way he can make up for his mistake. Moore's most basic advice would be simple: "If I can help these guys and encourage them -- don't even gamble at all. That's my word to them."

It's the same rule that Moore has adopted since his suspension. Asked what role gambling plays in his life these days, he said, "Nothing at all. Don't even think about it. Anytime I hear about it, just walk away."

A new outlook isn't the only positive that Moore found in a negative situation. He said "there was a lot of good that came out of it," including a year at home with his family. He and his wife, who got married last summer, have a young daughter and a four-month-old son.

"Being a father, becoming a better husband, growing closer to God, yeah, that kept me busy," said Moore, who also trained four days a week at an LA Fitness in his wife's hometown in New Jersey.

His return to the Lions might come at just the right time. As the NFL institutes a new kickoff rule this season, special-teams players will grow more valuable around the league. Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp said he "hated to see (Moore) go" and is just as "excited to see him back."

"He's an energetic player, he's always got a positive attitude, an optimistic person. And he is a very sudden player, which helps," said Fipp.

Asked about the new kickoff role, Moore said that "a lot more plays are going to be made. I'm super excited about it. I know Fipp is going to draw up some crazy stuff. ... The more plays we can make, the more we can help the team. The more games we win."

He added that the new rule "means a lot for a guy like myself, a special-teams guy in this league."

A special-teams guy back in this league.