C.J. Gardner-Johnson is thrilled to be back in Philadelphia and even more relieved to have left Detroit.

The safety had a tough time during his single season with the Lions, accusing the organization of misleading him about his future.

“It was a nightmare,” Gardner-Johnson told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “I was lied to, plain and simple. I was told I’d be brought back, but that never happened. Once the offseason hit and I signed here, I wasn’t too bothered by it. Everything worked out in the end.”

After departing from the Eagles in 2023, Gardner-Johnson didn’t land the long-term contract he had hoped for and instead settled for a one-year deal with the Lions. However, the season didn’t go as planned for either side.

In Week 2, he suffered a torn pectoral muscle, sidelining him until Week 18. He managed to return in time for the playoffs, playing in all three postseason games.

Although he considers his individual performance a success, he holds no fond memories of his time in Detroit.

“Honestly, being in Detroit was a nightmare,” Gardner-Johnson said. “When I got injured, I just thought, ‘Whatever.’ That’s why I didn’t even do my rehab there.”

Instead, he completed most of his recovery in Florida and left as soon as the season ended. Now, he’s back in Philadelphia, glad to have moved on from the Lions.