Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson unhappy with current rotational role after returning from injury.
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00:00 With the return of CJ Gardner Johnson comes some concerns about his role in the rotation with the Detroit Lions.
00:07 Here today to break that topic down is SIO Lions' John Mackren.
00:11 John, give me your thoughts and analysis on how Gardner Johnson fits into this Lions rotation going forward.
00:17 Yeah, Cameron. It's been the talk really since word got around that CJ Gardner Johnson was going to return to this team.
00:24 Why? Kirby Joseph and Afatu Malafonwu have played really at a high level. The Detroit Lions defense has forced over five turnovers the last couple games.
00:33 And you see the emergence of Malafonwu, who's a big physical safety now that is learning the position and growing in confidence.
00:41 How do you take away his playing time? Kirby Joseph is always around the football.
00:45 So you recognize CJ Gardner Johnson is looking to be a starter. He doesn't want to come off the field.
00:52 And I think once he discovered what the coaching staff said, who look naturally and it has been their M.O.
00:58 When injured players return, it just they kind of ease them into their role.
01:02 They don't just allow returning players that have been injured to play their full amount of snaps in a defensive game.
01:09 So the Lions like to ease their players in to give them the best opportunity to succeed and to not re injure themselves.
01:15 But for CJ Gardner Johnson, he's such a competitor that he voiced his displeasure, which for some may be, you know, unappealing.
01:23 But Dan Campbell was asked about it and indicated that, look, he's a competitor.
01:27 And what I like about Dan Campbell is he's direct and honest.
01:31 And Campbell said to reporters who asked about it, CJ Gardner Johnson doesn't have to like our decision, but we make the decision.
01:37 We tell our players directly what their role is. And he's a competitor.
01:41 And he naturally would not like to hear that he's not going to play.
01:45 But the good thing is, is you're motivating CJ Gardner Johnson to do the best that he can, given his opportunities.
01:50 And once he's out there, I think he's going to fight real hard to make it difficult for the coaches to take him off the field.
01:57 It's a good problem to have. I think this comes from competitiveness, not from a position of being disgruntled.
02:03 By all accounts, by everybody that you talk to about CJ Gardner Johnson, he is a great teammate.
02:09 He is caring. He is passionate. But at times, maybe like some, maybe lets his thoughts and opinions flow too freely as opposed to keeping it to himself.
02:19 But, hey, we can debate that. But it comes from passion. It doesn't come from being disgruntled.