The Lions plan to work C.J. Gardner-Johnson back into the lineup in Sunday's season finale, that much seems clear. His role entering the playoffs remains to be seen.
Asked Thursday about his excitement to get back out there, Gardner-Johnson said, "If I get out there."
Dan Campbell has indicated all week that Gardner-Johnson, who returned to practice two weeks ago as he works his way back from a torn pec he suffered in Week 2, will be back on the field Sunday. And defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said Thursday that the Lions will play their top three safeties in Gardner-Johnson, Kerby Joseph and the emerging Ifeatu Melifonwu, possibly at the same time.
Gardner-Johnson, again, redirected a question to the coaches as to how this might work: "Don't ask me that question. I ain’t never played on the field with two (other safeties). I only played on the field with one. But respectfully, me to you, I don’t know what’s going on."
If it were up to him, Gardner-Johnson would never come off the field. He's used to playing every defensive snap, as he has the past two seasons when healthy. The Lions would likely rather ease him back into action as he returns from a serious injury that required surgery.
"It doesn’t mean that he has to like it, but he’s going to go out there and when he’s on the field, he’s going to give what he’s got," Campbell said Friday. "And that’s the most important thing. As long as we’re all open and direct with each other and they know where we’re coming from and we know where they’re coming from, you don’t have to like it, but you respect it."
Gardner-Johnson has been a full participant at practice this week after being limited the last two weeks. Asked about playing Sunday against the Vikings, he said, "I'm being all the way thorough, I don’t know. ... I’ve been healthy and ready for the past three, four weeks. Like I said, it’s not on me to make the decision. Ask the coaches."
"Duce is a competitor," Campbell said. "He wants to play and he wants to play every snap and I appreciate that. I think we all do. But between myself and AG, when those come up like that, we’re just very direct and tell it from the get-go and here’s why. Look, Ducey’s a pro. At the end of the day, he wants to play, he wants to be a part of it."
Gardner-Johnson is a playmaker and a tone-setter on defense. He led the NFL in picks last season despite missing five games with a lacerated kidney, then returned late in the year and helped the Eagles reach the Super Bowl. The Lions signed him to a one-year deal to spark their revamped secondary. He played every snap in their season-opening win over the Chiefs and all but two after tearing his pec early in their Week 2 loss to the Seahawks.
Asked what he'll bring to the defense when he returns, Gardner-Johnson said, "What you see right now is what you probably gonna get. Ain’t gonna be the same anymore. Sh*t different now, ya know? Got a couple games left, gotta get to the (Super) Bowl, but other than that, you know how that sh*t go. Ask the coaches. I can’t answer nothing about me playing or none of that."
If the Lions feel good about Gardner-Johnson's performance Sunday, they may well move him back into an every-down role in the playoffs. They'll likely take the same approach with defensive tackle Alim McNeill, who's returning from a knee injury. But Melifonwu's emergence factors into the conversation as well; he has three sacks, two interceptions and five passes defended since entering the starting lineup four games ago for Tracy Walker.
In a conversation with reporters Friday, Gardner-Johnson said, "Getting into a rotation, I’m cool with it, but how can I say this? I don’t want to sound like I’m selfish or an a*shole, but I ain’t get back early to be in a rotation. But I'm doing what I need to do as a team player to get my body going."
He added, "I’ve been playing well my whole life, so if I lost my job to other people playing well then, hey, they did they job. I mean, I'm comfortable saying I lost my job due to injury. I didn’t lose my job because I had a coverage bust. So respect the guys in front of me, but the vet’s back. The vet back. I'm gonna give you a grace period, but after that it’s up."
Campbell and his coaching staff also have to be careful to protect Gardner-Johnson from himself. The 26-year-old made it back nearly three months ahead of schedule based on his original rehab timeline. The last thing anyone wants is for Gardner-Johnson suffer a setback or another injury as he heads into free agency for the second year in a row.
"They need to have confidence in themselves, but you have to also be honest and open about it as a coach looking at the player and saying, they may be trying to talk themselves into it but you know they’re not there yet," said Campbell. "And yeah, I think you gotta be prepared to save them from themselves somewhat."
Gardner-Johnson says he's ready to rip. It's just a matter of when the Lions take off the reins.