Not long after his departure from the Detroit Lions, C.J. Gardner-Johnson took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to call out his former teammates and the fanbase.
Now back with his former team and preparing for Super Bowl 59, “Ceedy Duce” has taken yet another shot — this time at the organization.
The Philadelphia Eagles defensive back, who will play in Super Bowl 59 on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs, reflected on his lone season in Detroit while speaking with the Detroit Free Press during media availability, and his summation of the stint was anything but kind.
“It was hell,” Gardner-Johnson said. “I got lied to, so it was whatever. I got told, respectfully, I was going to get brought back and didn’t get brought back. And offseason went real for me, signing back here because I wasn’t really tripping on it. It all worked out.”
During his first stint in Philadelphia, the fiery defensive back was instrumental in the Eagles reaching Super Bowl 57 against the Chiefs. However, the Eagles elected not to bring him back, paving the way for Gardner-Johnson to sign a one-year “prove-it” deal with the Lions.
Unfortunately for Gardner-Johnson and the Lions, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He missed the next 14 games before being reactivated for the season finale against the Minnesota Vikings.
In Gardner-Johnson’s absence, the Lions’ homegrown talent — rookie Brian Branch, along with Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu — established themselves as vital playmakers within the defense, presumably leading to the franchise electing not to bring Gardner-Johnson back.
Reflecting on Melifonwu, Gardner-Johnson shared that he was benched because his former teammate took his spot.
“He had a good run and they thought—and he didn’t end up starting this year, which was crazy,” Gardner-Johnson said about Melifonwu. “You see where they’re at, you see where I’m at.”
Getting back on the field for that Week 18 win over the Vikings, where he had four tackles and an interception, was important to him, as he still viewed his lone year in Detroit as a success despite harboring strong feelings.
“Truthfully, like in Detroit, it was hell,” he said. “I went there to just—OK, when I got hurt, I was like ‘(expletive) it.’ Truthfully, that’s why I didn’t go rehab there.”
The six-year veteran shared that because of where he saw things heading with his future on the team, he elected to rehab in Florida. Since he was on a one-year deal, he didn’t feel the need to do it in Detroit unless the team indicated they planned to re-sign him.
“By the time midseason came and I was getting healthy, they wasn’t trying to extend me, I’m like, ‘I’m cool.’”
Considering himself one of the best safeties in football, Gardner-Johnson said it didn’t matter whether he continued rehab in Detroit or not.
Of the many things he said in his interview, perhaps the most eyebrow-raising remark was about the Lions’ wide receiver room — calling Jameson Williams “the best receiver on that team.”
“(I) know so,” he said. “People get caught up in the hype, but I get caught up in the truth.”
Williams, who just wrapped up his third season, finished with 91 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns. He trailed fourth-year starter Amon-Ra St. Brown, who turned in another All-Pro season with 115 receptions for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns — ranked top five and top three, respectively, among all receivers this season.
In his three games (two starts) with the Lions, Gardner-Johnson recorded 17 tackles, three passes defended and one interception.
