CJ Gardner Eminent Return Hit With Another Deadly Delima…
C.J. Gardner-Johnson returned to practice Wednesday for the Detroit Lions, just four months after suffering a torn pectoral muscle against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2.
His astounding recovery has been something to behold, as his injury is normally one that costs a player the rest of their season. However, Gardner-Johnson’s rigorous rehab routine helped him recover quickly.
Now that he’s back, he’s carrying an edge in an effort to boost the Lions down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Along the way, he’s remembered what some said about the team when he first signed with the organization last offseason.
People thought we were going to be (expletive) this year. I look at my comments every day from when I signed,” Gardner-Johnson told reporters.
“‘Enjoy being a five-win team, a three-win team, a four-win team.’ Haha, (expletive). I’m still on my cocky, arrogant (stuff). That (stuff) ain’t going nowhere. I read the Bible, too. Make sure y’all put that in there.”
Publicly, Gardner-Johnson was adamant that he would be returning to the team at some point during the 2023 season.
But during his rehab process, the prognosis wasn’t always so bright. When he first learned of his injury, the initial report was that his torn pec would end his season.
The safety finished the game against the Seahawks despite suffering the injury on the first defensive series.
With just one healthy arm, the defender was able to power through the injury and finish the contest.
For him to persevere and play four quarters with a significant injury, he was fueled by his intrinsic motivation and confidence in himself.
“How’d I play through it? Let me tell you how I played through it, I’m a dawg,” Gardner-Johnson said.
“I don’t think there’s no safety better than me right now. That’s why. I feel like I’m the best safety, so I’ve got to go out there and prove it.”
In that Seattle game, the Lions suffered a heartbreaking defeat. Gardner-Johnson delivered hype ahead of that game by encouraging fans to wear ski-masks to the game.
As he returns, the ski-mask may not.
“Bruh I ain’t even gonna cap, I think that s**t cursed,” Gardner-Johnson said.
Initially, Gardner-Johnson was dealing with plenty of mental strain being away from the team. In his first media session since returning to practice, he shared some of the lows that came with dealing with the long-term injury.
“Lonely, dark, no ball. Just back being around my boys,” Gardner-Johnson said. “It’s different when you ain’t got the things you’re accustomed to. Waking up every morning, meetings, having to do a whole different routine.”