C.J. Gardner-Johnson punctuated his comeback the only way he knew how: with a game-sealing pick in the Lions' 30-20 win over the Vikings in Sunday's regular-season finale.
"It’s finna get started. It’s finna be a good party every time I step on that field," Gardner-Johnson said after making an expedited return three months after undergoing surgery on the torn pec he suffered in Week 2. "Because I’m just going to bring the intensity just to be a ballhawk, do what I was brought here for: intensity and energy, make plays. And I think out there today, just being there for my team, you could see the difference.
"We were always energized, but just being out there and just doing what we needed to do, that energized my team. Forget the crowd. I appreciate the fans, but my team needed me more than anything today and I appreciate them for letting me come back out there."
Gardner-Johnson was originally facing a six-month recovery, but cut it in half by putting in more than 12 hours of rehab a day with his personal trainer at his home in Florida. He said he "felt normal" on Sunday, especially after knocking off some rust by tackling tight end Johnny Mundt on a long pass down the seam late in the first quarter.
"When I hit that tight end, I was folding him across the middle, that’s when I felt like myself. I felt good. As the game got on, getting into the flow with the safeties, we gonna be a fu*king problem," Gardner-Johnson said.
The Lions played their first defensive drive with Kerby Joseph and Ifeatu Melifonwu at safety, then alternated Gardner-Johnson and Melifonwu for the rest of the day. While coordinator Aaron Glenn floated the possibility this week of playing all three safeties at the same time, the Lions stuck with two-safety looks on Sunday.
It wasn't always pretty. In fact, the secondary was frequently out of sync, allowing backup quarterback Nick Mullens to throw for 396 yards. The Lions were gashed for several big gains in the second half, including long touchdowns to Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison on back-to-back drives where the safeties were nowhere to be found.
But they did come up with two late interceptions, the first courtesy of Cam Sutton on the Vikings' penultimate drive. Gardner-Johnson's interception was a gift from Mullens on an overthrown ball over the middle, but "it was good to see him get one," said Dan Campbell. Gardner-Johnson, in typical fashion, delivered the ball straight to his coach.
"I was over there yelling, 'We need our takeaway, where’s our takeaway!?' And he gets it and he’s running over the ball and I was like, 'OK, I’ll take it, and then I give it back to you,'" Campbell said with a laugh. "But it was good, it’s good to get him back involved. He’s a football-playing dude, and he’s a productive player who can play at a high level. So we’re getting him and (Alim McNeill) back at the right time, the perfect time."
Gardner-Johnson finished with four tackles, though he was angry with himself for missing one early in the game: "That's the rust," he said. "But other than that, I’m back in my element, with the guys, having fun." He was all smiles when asked about being introduced with the starters before kickoff, knowing the fans "wanted to see me."
"When they told me I was running out, I was like, Hey, welcome home," he said with a grin.
The real games start next week, which is why Gardner-Johnson signed here. Having played in big games throughout his career, including last year's Super Bowl with the Eagles, he intends to help set the tone for the Lions in the playoffs.
"We got two more banners to hang, if you know what that means," he said.
That would be NFC Champions and Super Bowl Champions, to join the NFC North banner the Lions raised to the rafters of Ford Field this week.
"Two more banners, and I’m not falling short on that, we’re not falling short. And I’ll be damned if that happens," said Gardner-Johnson. "We worked too hard. Like Coach Dan says, we’re seasoned for this. We're perfectly scarred for this."
For Gardner-Johnson, who signed here on a one-year deal hoping to land a long-term contract this offseason, the next month is an opportunity to remind everyone of his worth. And to let the NFL know that no matter where he winds up next, the Lions are here to stay.
"I’m just appreciative to be a part of a great organization," Gardner-Johnson said. "Shout-out Sheila (Ford Hamp), shout-out Brad (Holmes), AG, Dan, for just bringing me here. Ain’t nothing more than just thanking God for this moment. It’s a humbling moment. Ball got taken away from me, so I had to regroup.
"And going out there today just to get a team win felt good to me."