C.J. Gardner-Johnson sought financial security in free agency, and Monday’s injury is a significant reason.
Detroit signed the talented safety to a one-year, $8 million deal with a $6.5M fully guaranteed signing.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn were with the Saints when Garnder-Johnson was drafted out of the University of Florida.
A talented and game-changing defensive back, Gardner-Johnson’s first season with Detroit could be in jeopardy after he was carted off from practice with a non-contact knee injury.
Veteran #Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down with a right leg injury Monday & was carted off the field. He was visibly upset and team captains Buggs and Goff made it a point to go comfort him. Hoping for better news than it looked.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) July 24, 2023
Gardner-Johnson suffered the injury during 11-on-11 drills on Monday morning.
He was carted off the field after being assessed by trainers who tended to the playmaking safety for several minutes before exiting for the training room.
UPDATE:
There is optimism that #Lions DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson's knee injury is not serious, per sources.
More tests to come after CJGJ went down in practice today, but as one source put it: “He’s fine.”
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 24, 2023
Tom Pelissero of NFL.com is reporting that Gardner-Johnson may have avoided serious injury, and that “he’ll be fine.”
