Last summer, the Detroit Lions made a significant effort to help their struggling secondary by signing safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson away from the NFC Champions Philadelphia Eagles.
Now, after an injury-plagued season, Johnson could be on his way out of Detroit and back to Philadelphia.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Eagles intend to re-sign Johnson in free agency to fortify their secondary. Fowler said that other clubs may be in the running for the veteran safety.
“A C.J. Gardner-Johnson reunion in Philadelphia is on my radar,” Fowler said in an email. “The Eagles realized they were missing a talented safety in the secondary.” Tennessee makes sense for him, too. Dennard Wilson, the Titans defensive coordinator, is a huge fan of Gardner-Johnson from their days in Philadelphia.”
Safety’s Rough Season in Detroit
The Lions had high hopes for Gardner-Johnson, who had received high accolades from general manager Brad Holmes and was expected to take over as starter. During the team’s minicamp in June, head coach Dan Campbell remarked that Gardner-Johnson was already taking on leadership responsibilities and pushing teammates.
“He’s got a contagious energy,” Campbell stated on June 7. “One of the reasons C.J. [Gardner-Johnson] is that way is because that’s how he starts his engine. As a result, it simply spills over to the offense and your teammates.
“You can’t help — the level of intensity. It raises. I think that makes everybody around you better and more competitive.”
The energy did not last long in the regular season. Johnson suffered a torn pectoral muscle in a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and remained on injured reserve until the season finale.
Gardner-Johnson was not the only newcomer to the secondary who suffered an injury in 2023. The Lions also signed cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, who was injured in his first game back after recovering from a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season.
“Gardner-Johnson might compete for both spots and shouldn’t cost much after missing the majority of the 2023 season with a pectoral ailment. Another one-year contract in the $6-8 million area may make sense.”
According to SI.com’s Vito Chirco, Detroit’s chances of re-signing the veteran safety may depend on the type of contract he seeks in 2024. According to Chirco, the Lions may be able to re-sign Garder-Johnson on a short-term basis, but they are unlikely to match long-term bids.
Gardner-Johnson earned $6.5 million on his one-year contract with the Lions in 2023,” Chirco stated. “If I were Holmes, I’d be willing to re-sign Duce to a comparable short-term contract (one or two years for no more than $7 million per season).
“But, if he wants a long-term deal, I’d be out on the Gardner-Johnson sweepstakes.”
