C.J. Mosley’s anxious to return after extended absence, declares opponents will ‘respect the name again’
By Keith Farner
Published:
Former Alabama standout C.J. Mosley has added motivation to leave a mark on this season when he finally hits the field for the New York Jets.
Mosley suffered a severe groin injury in the 2019 opener, aggravated the injury in his comeback game a few weeks later and eventually had surgery.
“There’s a little added chip (on his shoulder) because you’ve always got your fans that are going to heckle,” Mosley said Thursday, per ESPN, in his first interview since opting out in 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. “When I get back on the field, I definitely want to make sure they respect the name again.”
The added spotlight is on Mosley because he signed the richest free-agent contract ever for an inside linebacker, which was five years and $85 million.
“Yeah, I don’t have any doubts in myself,” he added, “so it is what it is. I’m here, so we’ll let the play do the talking.”
Mosley is expected to start in the Jets’ 4-3 front, and the Jets are counting on him to return to his 2018 form.
“My body feels great,” he said. “I’m mentally happy, I’m physically happy, I’m emotionally happy. I’m just happy to be back on the field. When you’re out for a while, you’re always in your head, thinking, ‘When I get back, how’s it going to feel? Am I going to be able to move like I used to?’ After finishing this week, I feel great.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
