Detroit Lions Mailbag: Lions have possibility of bringing back C.J. Gardner-Johnson

We answer some Lions questions

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Jul 23, 2025; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (23) during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

What a Week 3 win for the Detroit Lions over the Baltimore Ravens. Big time stuff. Lions fans have some questions moving forward, and it’s time to answer some of them.

Why don’t the Lions flop for penalties?

I don’t think there’s any directive not to flail or act to get calls your way from Dan Campbell. I think this stuff doesn’t matter at the end of the day. There are little things all players do that maybe exaggerate what just happened to get calls. You see it a lot with offensive linemen trying to get hands to the face calls. They’ll snap that head back to make it look way worse than it is. Everyone does that.

There are multiple plays a week when someone from the Lions will hold his arms up in the official’s direction, looking for a call. It happens with every team, and it rarely works. There’s little reason to do it. They’re getting calls going their way without it. Plus, it’s hard for officials to see everything, and players asking for calls could make it look more like they’re lying to get the call.

Could the Lions bring back C.J. Gardner-Johnson?

Theoretically, the Lions do have space for an extra safety, and Gardner-Johnson would be a fine backup safety. The thing is that he doesn’t want to be that, and we know that because when he came back from his torn pectoral in 2023, he talked about how he didn’t sign with the Lions to be part of a rotation. He wanted to start , and when he left, he accused the Lions of lying to him about being brought back and said it was hell in Detroit.

So yeah, it’s unlikely that either party wants to get back together. Never say never, but I don’t see this happening at all. Plus, the Lions have an interesting option in Thomas Harper that they should continue to explore, and Daniel Thomas and Avonte Maddox can help out, too.

Did I expect the Lions to beat up on Lamar Jackson?

I’m not usually one to toot my horn, but yes. To a degree, of course. Last week, I wrote about how the Ravens’ offensive line had been struggling mightily with pass protection and how the game could be a highlight reel for Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad. I certainly didn’t expect 34 pressures and seven sacks, though. What a performance and a well-called game from Kelvin Sheppard.

At this point, if the Lions make a trade at the deadline, what position are they trading for?

The Lions are pretty set just about everywhere on the field right now. So, assuming there are no injury problems and knowing that they will get Josh Paschal, Alim McNeill, Ahmed Hassanein, and Malcolm Rodriguez back prior to the deadline, I’m leaning towards the idea that the Lions won’t make any trades at the deadline this year.

With that said, it’s reasonable that the Lions will make some phone calls and inquire about edge rushers around that time. We’ll see if they decide to pull the trigger on one. If they keep playing like they did on Monday, they won’t need to.

How big will Trevor Nowaske’s role be going forward?

Nowaske made the most of his eight snaps on Monday night, and that should probably be the expected output for him snap-wise, at least in that eight-to-12-snap-per-game region. With Derrick Barnes holding down that SAM linebacker spot and the linebacker room being so deep, it’s just hard to find more than that for him. He should be expected to be more of a pass-rushing linebacker in these spots, too. He’s pretty good at it.

Which injured player should be expected to return first?

Of the 4 injured players that are eligible to return after the week 4 game, (Alim, Malcolm, Josh, & Miles) who do you think returns first? And what impact can they make?

— Dannyboyinthesky (@dannyboyinthesky.bsky.social) September 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM

This is purely speculation, but my guess is that Paschal returns first. He can start his 21-day clock on Monday. We’ll see if the Lions go that route and get him going. Dan Campbell didn’t have an answer last week when asked about it, but he did note that he continues to improve.

As for McNeill, he recently told Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers that he was very close. The Lions have told us that Rodriguez is expected in November, but could potentially return earlier, and Miles Fraizer could be back in October.

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