The perennially forlorn Lions have had a 2023 to remember, posting nine wins in their first 13 games. Detroit is on the doorstep of its first playoff appearance since 2016, and its first division title since 1993 seems very much in play.
Amazingly, the Lions haven't missed a beat despite being without one of their banner offseason acquisitions for much of this year: defensive back C.J. Gardner Johnson. One of the NFL’s 2022 co-leaders in interceptions hasn’t played since tearing a pectoral during Detroit’s 37–31 overtime loss to the Seahawks on Sept. 17.
That, however, seems likely to change soon. On Thursday, Lions coach Dan Campbell told reporters Gardner-Johnson had been medically cleared to return.
