Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson returning to practice in Week 16 after rehabbing torn pectoral muscle.
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00:00 CJ Gardner Johnson, better known as CD Deuce, is getting ready to make his return from injury
00:05 to the Detroit Lions.
00:06 Here today to analyze that topic is SIL Lions' John Macron.
00:11 John, what do you make of CJ Gardner Johnson's return and how will it benefit the Lions going
00:16 forward?
00:17 All throughout his recovery from a torn pectoral muscle, CJ Gardner Johnson has been dropping
00:21 hints, dropping videos of his workouts, even hinting at the December 20th date as being
00:26 a potential return date.
00:28 And all throughout the hints, he's been kind of letting everybody know that his recovery
00:32 has gone well.
00:33 Dan Campbell, you know, has been asked about it all throughout his recovery and has kind
00:38 of downplayed it.
00:40 But last week it was revealed and it has been acknowledged.
00:43 CJ Gardner Johnson is going to return to practice this week.
00:46 I don't think he's going to appear against the Vikings, but I do think a good week of
00:50 practice should bode well for the Lions, potentially, if CJ Gardner Johnson can return for the Dallas
00:56 Cowboys game.
00:57 I think he brings a swagger, an attitude, and I think that it's definitely a solid defensive
01:03 addition for Aaron Glenn, gives him more options at the safety spot.
01:07 But the safeties have been playing well.
01:08 Ifatou Melefonwu, Kirby Joseph have really solidified themselves as players that can
01:14 contribute.
01:15 Adding CJ Gardner Johnson, I think will be a jolt for this defense, a defense that kind
01:20 of has been struggling to gain confidence and to play at a consistent level throughout
01:25 the season.
01:26 And boy, when you look at a player that really dedicates himself in recovery after a serious
01:30 injury, nobody thought that he could potentially return in the postseason, especially early
01:35 on.
01:36 The prognosis was that he would return maybe by the second playoff game.
01:40 To have the opportunity to play more than one game in this season in his recovery, I
01:46 think is remarkable.
01:47 And it just goes to show you the Lions are filled with tough individuals who want to
01:50 play and work and get back there.
01:52 So as Dan Campbell said, this is a player that has remarkable recovery abilities and
01:57 boy will it bode well for the Lions defense to get a player, a key free agent that was
02:02 signed this past offseason to get him back.
02:05 I think it's definitely going to bode well and change the landscape of the Lions defense.
02:10 CJ Gardner Johnson will certainly give that defensive boost.
02:13 John, thanks for all the insight.
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