Detroit Lions' C.J. Gardner-Johnson would need 'mutant genes' to play again this season
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has told some of his teammates he could return from his torn pectoral muscle before the end of the season, but Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell said Monday that might be wishful thinking.
"We’ll just have to see," Campbell said when asked if the Lions are still holding out hope Gardner-Johnson could be back for the playoffs. "I think that timeline’s a matter of — it would be a very, very fast recovery, but I love where his head’s at. You got to think that way and you got to be positive, cause I think that leads to quicker healing if you allow yourself to think that way."
Gardner-Johnson suffered a torn pec in the Lions' Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and underwent surgery the following week.
He's spent most of his time rehabbing in Florida, but has made a handful of trips to Detroit to check in with doctors and be around teammates.
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At one practice last month, Gardner-Johnson was spotted throwing a football, and Lions safety Kerby Joseph said Gardner-Johnson did a push-up in the locker room about a month after surgery.
Told Gardner-Johnson has suggest on social media he could return in the next few weeks, Campbell joked, "I want to talk to the doctor he’s talking to."
"No, listen, Ducey is — he’s an upbeat, positive, hard-working, like will himself to (get better), and that’s what we love about him," Campbell said. "I don’t foresee that, but yet man, I’m not going to (rule it out). Never say never. I’m not going to do that. He may have mutant genes, he’s like Wolverine, there’s no telling. But believe me, that would be unbelievable, but I just, I think it’ll be hard but you never know."
More injuries
Campbell said the Lions are hopeful left guard Jonah Jackson can return for Thursday's game against the Green Bay Packers after sitting out Sunday's win over the Chicago Bears with a wrist injury.
Jackson was listed as "no practice" on the Lions' estimated injury report Monday, but Campbell said he was going to take part in the team's hourlong evening walk-through.
Defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs, who did not play against the Bears because of an illness, was listed as a full participant in practice, as were center Frank Ragnow (toe) and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (hand).
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If Jackson can't start, rookie Colby Sorsdal likely will make his second straight start at left guard. The Lions (8-2) have started eight different line combinations in 10 games this season and have used four different starters in their past four games at left guard: Sorsdal, Jackson, Graham Glasgow and Kayode Awosika.
"That was his first time starting over there at left guard and I say this again, it’s not too big for him," Campbell said. "I thought he fought in there. I know this, at the end of that game, he really, he played well. As really all those guys on offense did. That was some of our best football we’ve played all year in the last four minutes of the game. They just, we executed at a high level. And he really did, he stepped up.
"That’s a lot of pressure for a rookie, to go in there, first time at left guard and game’s on the line. I thought he played pretty good. Look, it's something to build off of on that side. We believe he’ll get better with more reps. We believe he’ll continue to grow, so it’s good."
Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Dan Campbell suggests Gardner-Johnson might not return from pec injury
