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Defensive tackle C.J. Mosley could still end up returning to the Lions.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- It seemed C.J. Mosley's two-week marijuana suspension might have been blocking his return to the Detroit Lions.

But that is not the case, according to a source -- and in fact, a return is still possible.

The Lions have interest in bringing back the veteran defensive tackle, according to the source. Negotiations are ongoing, and it's possible a deal could come together as soon as next week.

If such a deal occurs, it would add a proven veteran to a defensive tackle room that is light on known commodities outside of Haloti Ngata. The other rotation players -- Tyrunn Walker, Caraun Reid and Gabe Wright -- combine for 35 career games and one start.

Mosley is receiving interest from at least one other team, so the Lions still have some work to do to secure him and might have to offer more than a minimum salary benefit deal ($985,000 plus a $80,000 bonus) to make it happen. They have about $3.5 million in cap room right now.

But there's no doubt Mosley loves the Lions, and the Lions love him.

The 31-year-old had two of his best seasons here, both statistically and in the locker room. He operated as the top reserve behind Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley, then rose into the starting lineup when Fairley suffered a season-ending knee sprain last October.

The Lions ranked No. 1 against the run when Fairley went out and actually picked it up a notch with Mosley. They finished the season allowing just 69.3 yards per game, making theirs one of the 10 best rush defenses of all time.

Mosley finished with 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and seven QB hurries and was rated the 26th-best player at his position by ProFootballFocus. He also became a leader in the locker room and was revered by his fellow defensive linemen and the coaching staff.

Yet he remains unsigned more than two months after hitting free agency.

It seemed the marijuana suspension might have had something to do with it, but the source says that has not been an issue and that many of the details of that story have been misreported.

The source says Mosley did not disconnect a smoke detector in his London hotel room before the Atlanta game, as ESPN reported, and that he "is not a weed smoker." He wasn't smoking that day in his room and has never tested positive for the drug in his 10 years in the league.

The source could not say why Mosley was found with the drug in his room.

At any rate, that ordeal has not factored into why Mosley remains unsigned. The Lions have had intermittent negotiations with him throughout the offseason, particularly once Suh left in free agency. The sides simply have been unable to come to an agreement on the terms.

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