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C.J. Gardner-Johnson defied odds, ready to help Detroit Lions' playoff run: 'I'm a dog'
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- C.J. Gardner-Johnson defied odds, ready to help Detroit Lions' playoff run: 'I'm a dog'
Trainers knew right away.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson tore his pectoral muscle on the first drive of the Detroit Lions ' Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and when the Lions' medical staff delivered the news, Gardner-Johnson was adamant he had to finish the game.
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"If we win or we lose, they going to know that I'm a dog," Gardner-Johnson recalled thinking Wednesday. "Regardless if I tore it, broke it. I just want everybody to know I'm the same person. Broke arm, healed arm. Whatever it's going to be, I'm out there."
Three months after he underwent surgery to repair an injury that doctors told him would take six months to rehab, Gardner-Johnson returned to the practice field on a limited basis Wednesday.
It's unclear if he'll play in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings — the Lions have 21 days to return him to the 53-man roster — but Gardner-Johnson said he's thrilled to be back with the team after three "lonely" and "dark" months of rehab.
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) walks off the field after 37-31 loss to Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
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"I pray every night about this situation cause it can happen again, so I don't wish injury on nobody, bro, and I ain't never had a serious, serious injury but God willing I'm glad it wasn't too much to take me down," he said. "It's one of those moments, like I said, it's a learning experience. You learn who you is, you got to humble up cause like I told myself, this team is damn good without me and they're damn good with me and I'm just glad to be a part of something that's just thriving."
The Lions (10-4) can clinch their first division title in 30 years with a win over the Vikings.
Gardner-Johnson, in his first season with the Lions after helping the Philadelphia Eagles reach the Super Bowl last winter, said the team's goals are even bigger — like getting the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs.
The Lions must win their final three games and have the San Francisco 49ers (11-3) lose twice for that to happen. Along with the Vikings, they play the Dallas Cowboys on the road and have a second game against the Vikings at home.
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"I don't think a lot of guys understand, you're in a position right now you can change your life," Gardner-Johnson said. "You're fighting for seeds that you ain't never seen before. Like some guys have, some guys haven't, but I think right now it's come in tighter, tune out the noise. You guys call it the Kool-Aid we be drinking, put that (expletive) down and just keep playing ball."
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (2) celebrates a play against Green Bay Packers on the sideline during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2023.
For Gardner-Johnson, a return to ball is welcomed after three "boring" months when he was mostly isolated from teammates and friends.
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He spent most of his days rehabbing at his home in rural Florida, which he outfitted after last season with an array of rehab tools. He has in-ground hot and cold tubs, massage tables, a full weight room, his own film room and a 60-yard football field out back.
Gardner-Johnson said he called his rehab team shortly after surgery and asked to do two-a-day rehab sessions to expedite the healing process.
He adopted two dogs during his time away from football, pit bulls named "Pop" and "Mookie." And he said he cut about 350 songs.
Gardner-Johnson is in the process of changing his name to "Ceedy Duce," the alter ego he's long used as a stage name in the music business.
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"I probably say I had more dark days than good days, if that makes sense," Gardner-Johnson said. "I'm an athlete. Everybody expects everything to be fine and dandy, but, (expletive), you take football away, what you gonna do? This is our life, so just being around the atmosphere and seeing my guys happy and winning, it makes me happy."
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson with a ski mask ready to take the field against the Seattle Seahawks at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023.
Gardner-Johnson said he kicked his rehab into high gear after the Lions' lost to the Chicago Bears earlier this month.
He was cleared to return last week , but admitted Wednesday he still fears "messing up, injur(ies), letting you guys down."
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"I'm scared," he said. "But it's like I've been doing this since I was a kid so I got to face my fears somewhere by just going out there and doing what I love."
Whether that happens this week or not is "to be determined," Gardner-Johnson said, but whenever it does, it likely will be without the blue ski mask he called on fans to wear the game he got hurt but now says is "cursed."
"It's boring as hell yelling at that TV, bro," Gardner-Johnson said. "But I get to yell with them now, so hopefully put on a shirt this weekend."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Gardner-Johnson returns, asks you leave home ski masks
