Didinger on C.J. Gardner-Johnson getting ejected: 'Simply stupid'
Ray Didinger says Philadelphia Eagles defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson has to know better in Sunday's loss to the Commanders, calling CJGJs second verbal unsportsmanlike penalty "simply stupid."
"We all know Gardner-Johnson is a very emotional guy who plays on the edge and that's part of what makes him good and that's part of what makes him who he is—and you don't want to take that away from him," Didinger told Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie on Monday's 94WIP Morning Show. "But he has to be smart enough to know how to use it and when to use it. What he did in this game was just simply stupid. Now, you can say, 'Did the officials overreact?' Eh maybe. I didn't think it was a particularly well officiated game anyway...And he's not a kid, he's a pro. He's been around long enough. He has to be smart enough to know where that line is and don't go across that line. Him getting tossed out of this game was a factor."
Gardner-Johnson, 27, received his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of the game for verbally taunting his opponent early in the third quarter.
Respectfully got kicked out for nothing, I play with passion and fire!! Guys was chirping all day what u expect !!
— C.J. Gardner-Johnson (@CGJXXIII) December 22, 2024
NFL official Shawn Smith said after the game via SI.com, "He's basically taunting the opponent on the second foul. He already had a first one earlier in the game that we had announced as his first toward disqualification. So, this became his second. He was taunting the players so that's a disqualification by rule."
Gardner-Johnson flipped off the Commanders' fans while walking off of the field.
Defensively, the Eagles had a confusing day, forcing five turnovers—including an interception by CJGJ himself. However, Philadelphia—without CJGJ—allowed 20 points in the fourth quarter. Philadelphia also lost DT Jordan Davis and DE Josh Sweat during the game to injury. Offensively, the Eagles were forced to play the majority of the contest without their starting quarterback in Jalen Hurts, who suffered a concussion early in the game.
Washington finished with 368 total yards behind a 24-39, 258, 5 TD, 2 INT passing performance by Jayden Daniels, who threw a game-winning touchdown pass with six seconds remaining.
Daniels also rushed for 81 yards on nine carries and Didinger admits his dynamic playmaking style is one that could give the Eagles' defense problems in the postseason.
"Oh yeah, I'd say they struggled," Didinger said of Philadelphia's defense, which ranked first in the NFL heading into Week 16.
"61 yard drive, 87 yard drive, 57 yard drive [allowed]. You'll rarely have a conversation where the defense had five takeaways and say the defense lost the game, but they kind of did.
"I think what we saw yesterday is the damage that a running quarterback can do to this defense...You saw the ability that a really playmaking mobile quarterback, the way he can take even the league's number one defense and turn it inside out."
