The Detroit Lions signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson away from the NFC Champions Philadelphia Eagles in a major offseason move to strengthen their underperforming secondary.
After a season marred by injuries, Johnson may soon be leaving Detroit and returning to Philadelphia.
The Eagles want to bring Johnson back in free agency to lead their secondary once more, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Other clubs might be vying for the veteran safety spot, according to Fowler.
“I’m keeping an eye out for a C.J. Gardner-Johnson reunion in Philadelphia,” wrote Fowler. “The Eagles understood they were lacking the skilled secondary safety. For him, Tennessee makes sense as well. Gardner-Johnson’s former Philadelphia Eagles teammate Dennard Wilson is a huge fan of the Titans defensive coordinator.
Detroit’s Tough Season for Safety…
Gardner-Johnson, who received high marks from general manager Brad Holmes and was expected to assume a starting role, was highly anticipated by the Lions. Head coach Dan Campbell saw that Gardner-Johnson was already assuming a leadership role and encouraging teammates during the team’s minicamp in June.
June 7: “He has a contagious energy,” Campbell remarked. “That’s how C.J. [Gardner-Johnson] starts his engine, which is one of the reasons he is that way. That then simply trickles down to your teammates and the offense.
The intensity level is something you can’t control. It elevates. I believe that improves and increases the competitiveness of everyone around you.
The regular season’s excitement was short-lived. During a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Johnson tore his pectoral muscle, forcing him to play on injured reserve until the end of the season.
In 2023, Gardner-Johnson wasn’t the only recent addition to the secondary to suffer an injury. In addition, the Lions acquired cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who suffered an injury in his first game back following his recovery from an ACL tear and was sidelined for the rest of the campaign.
Gardner-Johnson, C.J., May Head Somewhere Else..
According to some insiders, Gardner-Johnson is unlikely to return to Detroit in 2024.Pro Football Network’s Dallas Robinson projected that he would sign a contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Robinson stated that “Pittsburgh might try to find a better second safety to play opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick this offseason, while Steelers slot corner Chandon Sullivan is on track for free agency.”
Gardner-Johnson, who missed the majority of the 2023 season due to a pectoral injury, may contend at both positions and shouldn’t come with a high price tag. Another one-year deal worth $6–8 million may be logical.
According to Vito Chirco of SI.com, Detroit’s chances of re-signing the seasoned safety may depend on the type of 2024 contract he wants. Chirco projected that the Lions would have the opportunity to sign Garder-Johnson to a short-term contract, but they probably wouldn’t accept long-term offers.
Chirco stated, “Gardner-Johnson earned $6.5 million during his one-year contract with the Lions in 2023.” “If I were Holmes, I would be open to resigning Duce to a comparable short-term deal (one or two years at a maximum salary of $7 million each season).
“But I would be out of the Gardner-Johnson sweepstakes if he wants a long-term deal.”
