Detroit Lions DB breaks silence on 2023 gambling suspension

After being suspended by the NFL for playing violations last offseason, the Detroit Lions made the quick decision to release defensive back CJ Moore, who ended up missing the entire 2023 campaign due to suspension for a indefinite period.

However, Moore was reinstated by the league recently and was re-signed by the Lions, returning a player who was a key special teams contributor for several seasons in Detroit.

On Thursday, Moore broke his silence on the subject as the team held its first open session of organized team activities. He didn’t want to go into detail about what his gambling entailed, but he showed obvious remorse and took responsibility for it.

“I knew the rules, like I said, I was just being immature, I was playing, I was losing control of awareness of what I was doing,” Moore admitted, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “So it’s just a careless mistake.”

Moore looks to take advantage of his mistake and use it as a lesson, not only for himself, but also for his teammates.

“When I hear someone talking about it, like I said, I walk away,” he said. “But if I can help and tell these guys and encourage them to not even play at all, that’s my word.”

Moore said the suspension left him in limbo because he didn’t know how it would affect his career, which began as an undrafted free agent by the Lions in 2019.

“There were times where, I mean, it was difficult,” Moore said. “I didn’t know what was going to happen to me. There was a lot of uncertainty, but all I could do was just try to do my best, be a good pro and try to prepare myself to come back .and I’m so grateful to be back.”

He, however, made the most of the suspension by marrying and having a second child. He also stayed in shape by working out at a gym in New Jersey.

Now he will look to revive the role he had with the Lions before the ban.