MARCH 25: The Eagles will guarantee Gardner-Johnson $10MM on this deal, 94WIP.com’s Eliot Shorr-Parks tweets. The team used void years through 2029 to spread out the cap hits.
MARCH 12: C.J. Gardner-Johnson is heading back to Philly. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the veteran defensive back is signing with the Eagles.
The veteran is inking a three-year deal worth up to $33MM, according to Pelissero. Following a one-year stop in Detroit, Gardner-Johnson is now back with his former squad.
After getting traded by the Saints to the Eagles prior to the 2022 campaign, Gardner-Johnson proceeded to start 12 games for Philadelphia, missing a chunk of midseason games thanks to a lacerated kidney. Despite the absence, he finished the season with 67 tackles and a league-leading six interceptions. He also started each of the Eagles’ three playoff games, including a Super Bowl loss where he compiled four tackles.
That performance earned him a one-year, $8MM contract from the Lions last offseason. However, his lone season in Detroit was highlighted by injuries. He suffered a non-contact injury during training camp that was expected to wipe out his season, but the MRI provided a brighter outlook. Gardner-Johnson was able to return in time for the start of the regular season, but he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 that wiped out most of the campaign.
He got back to the field for the regular season finale, and he subsequently played in at least 50 percent of Detroit’s defensive snaps in each of their three playoff games. The 26-year-old still showed he had something left in the tank during the postseason, collecting 12 tackles and an interception.
The Eagles still have Darius Slay and James Bradberry atop their depth chart, but the team did lose some depth when they cut Avonte Maddox last week. Gardner-Johnson’s experience will likely provide him with a path to plenty of playing time as a backup or nickelback.
That just happened.
Yessssssssir
WHAT THE DEUCE
woohoo! welcome back. I know you didnt really wanna leave
The Eagles have signed some talented players…with injury histories. This could go well or could blow up in their faces.
Almost everyone available on the FA market has an injury or productivity issue although a few land there as salary cap casualties. Howie can be a pretty good fixer and I like the moves he’s been making this off season. Time will tell if he can right the ship after last seasons collapse.
Wish CJGJ never left. Glad to have him back.
Not only a solid player at a position of need, but a player notorious for talking so much trash that he regularly gets in fights with his own teammates at practice just feels like he belongs in Philly.
Bradberry better be history. He’s toast.
Makes sense to keep him here rather than swallow the cap hit. Corner will be tops at the draft. Maybe CJGJ can give him some help. I find it hard to believe he just forgot how to play football after a solid year during the Super Bowl run. We shall see
Downward spiral within a downward spiral within…
Nepotism at its finest. Deebos son getting paid for being a clown
Stupid name
Agreed, cj has way too many names
Never really liked him much in DET. Talks way more than he plays. Would rather have Kirby Joseph and Iffy playing Safety.
Good for Deebo’s son.