Detroit Lions defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson pulled a savage move after intercepting a pass from Baker Mayfield on Sunday.
Gardner-Johnson picked Mayfield off on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first offensive drive of their Divisional Round playoff game against the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit. The pass should have been caught by Mike Evans, who got his hands on it and tipped it into the air.
Tipped and picked by CJ Gardner-Johnson!
📺: #TBvsDET on NBC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/frRD38ClOq pic.twitter.com/YywC0LjHRm— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
After he was run out of bounds on the interception return, Gardner-Johnson ended up right near Mayfield. Gardner-Johnson flipped the ball to Mayfield as the quarterback was making his way to the bench.
"Thanks bud" pic.twitter.com/a1TsIQB3cb
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) January 21, 2024
The taunt happened so quickly that the officials didn’t catch it, otherwise Gardner-Johnson could have been flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
Mayfield has never shied away from trash talk, so he will probably remember that the next time he gets the best of Gardner-Johnson.
