Detroit Lions C.J. Gardner-Johnson: 'I'm a Great Teammate'

Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson put in a significant amount of work in order to be able to return quite early from a significant injury. 

After a torn pectoral muscle cost him the majority of the 2023 season, the veteran voiced a certain amount of displeasure that he was likely going to be part of a rotation, when the decision is make to activate him off of the injured reserve list. 

"I’m going to be all the way thorough," Gardner-Johnson told reporters this week, via the Free Press. "Getting into a rotation, I’m cool with it, but I mean, how can I say this, I don’t want to sound like a selfish or (expletive), but I didn’t get back early to be in a rotation. 

"But I'm doing what I need to do as a team player to get my body going, per say, but I’ve been ready for almost months. I guess this is when it matters."

After Dan Campbell explained that Gardner-Johnson was a pro and would accept any decision the team made regarding his play, he did indicate the 26-year-old did not have to like it, but respects a players strong desire to want to play as much as possible. 

Some interpreted the veterans comments as indicating he could become an issue in the locker room or had issues with his teammates, who are going to be playing more in the short-term. 

Ifeatu Melifonwu and Kerby Joseph have established themselves as reliable defensive backs who are quite opportunistic on the back end.  

Gardner-Johnson took to social media and clarified, "I'm a great teammate, stop trying to spread false news."

Also, he did commend the young safeties on the roster for performing at a high level in his absence, but still vowed to battle to get back on the playing field and reclaim his starting job. 

"I’ve been playing well my whole life, so if I lost my job to other people playing well then, hey, they did their job. I mean, I’m comfortable saying I lost my job due to injury. I didn’t lose my job cause I had coverage busts," Gardner-Johnson said. "I lost my job due to injury, so respect the guys in front of me but the vet is back."