From the start of his rehab from a torn pec, C.J. Gardner-Johnson vowed he would return this season. He's making good on his word.
The star defensive has been medically cleared three months after undergoing surgery and the Lions plan to return him to practice next week. That would give them three weeks to either activate Gardner-Johnson for one of their final three games ahead of the playoffs or shut him down for the season. It will almost certainly be the former.
"It’s great news," Dan Campbell said Thursday. "It is back to what we said, he’s one of the X-Men. He’s got these mutant genes, because he has healed extremely quickly. He’s gotten strength back, it is secure, so yeah, he’s going to be ready to go here pretty soon."
The Lions signed Gardner-Johnson, 25, to be a difference-maker in their secondary after he led the NFL in picks last season. He only played one full game before suffering his injury early in the club's Week 2 loss to Seattle. His return would be a boon to a defense that's searching for more game-changing plays.
Campbell said he needs to confirm with GM Brad Holmes, but the plan is to start Gardner-Johnson's practice window next week.
"Certainly the plan will be, let’s get him going ASAP. Get him practicing, get his legs back under him, get him in shape, football shape. But that’s great news. That’s credit to him, too, now," said Campbell. "He's been working."