On the second day of training camp, the Lions may have lost one of their best players for the season.
Free agent acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who led the NFL in picks last season, crumpled to the grass during a team drill with an apparent right knee injury and had to be carted off the field Monday morning, crying as he was taken to the locker room. Quarterback Jared Goff was among the players to console him before he left the field.
The 25-year-old defensive back was signed to a one-year, $6.5 million deal to be a playmaker and leader in the Lions' revamped secondary after helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl last season. Detroit also added veteran corners in Cam Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley, the latter of whom is still recovering from a torn ACL.
The severity of Gardner-Johnson's injury isn't yet known. The Lions have clarified after reviewing video of the play that it wasn't purely non-contact, which could be a good sign.
But assuming Gardner-Johnson has to miss any time, rookie Brian Branch would be his most natural replacement. The second-round pick thrived at both safety and nickel at Alabama, the two roles Gardner-Johnson was pegged to play in Detroit.