C.J. Gardner-Johnson is back at Detroit Lions practice a little over three months after tearing a pectoral muscle back in Week 2. His aggressive rehabilitation and recovery allowed the Lions to start the 21-day clock for his return from injured reserve.
His impending return reflects Gardner-Johnson’s toughness, both physical and mental. The physical part of the equation allowed him to finish playing in Week 2 against Seattle even after suffering the injury.
“How did I play through it?” Gardner-Johnson said via Kyle Meinke of MLive. “I’ll tell you how I played through it. I’m a dawg. 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 feel like I have to go out there and prove it. That’s why I did it.”
Gardner-Johnson talked about the long days of work to get back,
“Wake up at 7, I was probably done around 9 o’clock at night.”
Being back with his teammates and helping the Lions pick up the team’s first division title in 30 yards has helped motivate him. The Lions can use his playoff experience, playmaking ability and cocksure presence now that he’s back in the building and ready to play once again.
Editor’s note: Gardner-Johnson has legally changed his name to Ceedy Duce, but the Lions and the NFL officially still list him with his old name. Until the team makes the change, we are obligated to refer to the player by the name officially listed.
