Bears see C.J. Gardner-Johnson as a defensive spark the team has been missing and early signs point to an instant impact
The Chicago Bears are expecting big things out of the team’s newest addition.
The Chicago Bears made an uncharacteristic move on Wednesday when the team signed defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the active roster amid multiple injuries to the team’s secondary.
Chicago marks the fourth team in the calendar year that took the gamble on bringing Gardner-Johnson to the locker room. The other three stints (Philadelphia, Houston, and Baltimore) were short lived due to multiple different reasons including issues with his role and disagreements with the team.
Now, the Bears are taking the gamble on a player many have considered to be a fiery competitor, sometimes to a fault. But, what exactly are the Bears getting in Gardner-Johnson? Will it be worth the risk? And how soon can he bring an impact to this defense?
Bears’ players and coaches set clear expectations for the impact C.J. Gardner-Johnson will bring to Chicago
After being released by the Ravens, Gardner-Johnson noted he had multiple options to consider on the open market but chose to come to Chicago. The familiarity with Dennis Allen, whom he played for during the first three years of his career was an main factor, but not the only one.
“Come to a place where I’m comfortable with the coach,” Gardner-Johnson said to reporters. “This team was already good before me. They’re good. I’m just coming in and adding extra fire, add extra skills to the backend. I’m happy to be here.”
This kind of a signing couldn’t have come at a better time. Last Saturday, the Bears placed nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon on the injured reserve, losing a key impactful player for the entire defense. The next day, the unit got embarrassed against a backup quarterback allowing 30 points and putting an end to the unit’s takeaway streak.
Some added fire and ability to create takeaways can help spark the entire unit after a loss like that. Since getting Gardner-Johnson into the building, the coaching staff has been hammering him with information and getting him out on the field. After his first day of practice with the team, Gardner-Johnson told reporters: “I’ll see you Sunday.”
“I think there’s some recall in terms of what we’ve done with him before,” Allen explained. “I think that was kind of the plan coming in. Let’s try to force-feed some of the information to him, force-feed some of these reps to him and then see where he’s at.”
When talking more in depth about Gardner-Johnson, Allen praised his competitive nature and added he “brings a little attitude to the football team” in a much needed way. It’s something some of his new teammates mentioned as well and are thrilled to be adding to the locker room.
“I’m under the belief that I think on each side of the ball, offense, defense, you need at least one or two of those guys on the field because they bring a certain level of juice,” veteran safety Kevin Byard said. “This game is played violently. You need somebody to go in there and be that spark. Obviously, you know the history of this city, Chicago Bulls with Dennis Rodman, sometimes you need guys like that out there. I think our leadership group on this team, we can hold things together and I don’t personally think it’ll be an issue. He’s been around this defense. I have a lot of respect for him. He has a lot of respect for me.”
Everyone can benefit from that kind of aggression on your side that Gardner-Johnson brings to the field, as long as it’s controlled and doesn’t lead to any negative plays. But for a defense that wants to bring a violent and aggressive attitude, it seems to be a perfect fit.
“Especially the way I talk and the way other people talk. We get people’s heads,” Brisker explained. “Grown men will be really crying out there. Men with kids. Imagine that. Seriously. It’s hilarious.”
The expectations from his new teammates and former coaches is clear. But, what about the personal expectations Gardner-Johnson has for himself and the rest of the season? He gave the best answer.
“I want to win,” Gardner-Johnson said. “I won a Super Bowl last year. Sometimes it’s not about being the star of the team. Sometimes it’s about being the guy that get things done the right way and helping guys get things done the right way.”
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