CJ Gardner-Johnson gives Puka Nacua some bulletin-board material
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson warms up during training camp at the Detroit Lions Headquarters and Training Facility in Allen Park on Sunday, July 23, 2023. Photo Credit: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
CJ Gardner-Johnson and his teammates will have their hands full trying to stop Los Angeles Rams rookie sensation Puka Nacua on Sunday, but the veteran defensive back does not seem all that concerned about the assignment.
Gardner-Johnson’s Detroit Lions are preparing to host the Rams in the opening round of the NFL playoffs. In an interview with Kyle Meinke of MLive.com, Gardner-Johnson was asked for his thoughts on Nacua, who set an NFL rookie record with 105 receptions this season. CJGJ downplayed the achievement and noted that Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown has more yards than Nacua.
“I don’t watch football, and I don’t know a damn about who is breaking records. I got receivers doing the same (bleep) he’s doing,” Garnder-Johnson said. “Who’s got more yards, Amon-Ra (St. Brown) or him? There you go. So, why would I pay attention to him. I got a receiver who finna break — who’s got more yards, Puka or him? So why would I pay attention to someone who’s not on my team? No disrespect.”
St. Brown finished with 1,515 receiving yards during the regular season, which ranked third in the NFL. Nacua was not far behind him with 1,486 yards. Considering the two were that close in yardage and Gardner-Johnson knows St. Brown finished ahead, it seems safe to conclude that Gardner-Johnson has paid a lot more attention to Nacua than he is willing to admit.
Gardner-Johnson did eventually give Nacua his props. He later told Meinke that Nacua and Cooper Kupp “probably rank right there as one of the best groups” the Lions have faced all season.
Nacua, a fifth-round pick out of BYU, unexpectedly exploded onto the scene this year when Kupp began the season injured. The rookie quickly became Matthew Stafford’s No. 1 option in the passing game. If he can continue that success in the postseason, the Rams will have a chance to pull off the upset in Detroit.
