Tag: ceedy duce

Saints DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson designated to COVID-19 reserve list

New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was designated to the COVID-19 reserve list on Wednesday, bringing a big hit to the secondary

[jwplayer n2sOWDn3-ThvAeFxT]

Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reported that New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is being placed on the COVID-19 list, though it’s unclear yet whether he returned a positive test result or was in close contract with a high-risk individual.

If Gardner-Johnson did test positive, he’ll be sidelined for at least 10 days before he can return to action, though that assumes he tests negative once the league-mandated window opens. Assuming that’s the case, the soonest he could return would be Saturday, Jan. 9 — right in the middle of the NFL Wild Card Round, when the Saints could be playing. Even in a best-case scenario he likely wouldn’t be available to play that weekend after missing practice time.

On the other hand, a close-contact loss would mean he simply misses five days while going through testing. If he continues to test negative, he’d be allowed to return after Monday, Jan. 4, just like backup quarterback Jameis Winston last week.

That’s a huge loss for the Saints either way. The second-year pro has logged 861 defensive snaps (fourth-most on the team), forming a dynamic tandem with Malcolm Jenkins around the middle of the field with Marcus Williams patrolling deep. It also means the Saints will be without two of their top three safeties in Week 17’s regular season finale with the Carolina Panthers if both Williams (sidelined by an ankle injury) and Gardner-Johnson can’t play this Sunday.

So stay tuned for updates. Gardner-Johnson is joining rookie cornerback Keith Washington Jr. on the COVID-19 list; Washington received the reserve designation on Dec. 24 and has not yet been activated, suggesting he turned in a positive test result rather than a high-risk close-contact report. Hopefully this isn’t the start of a cluster of cases at the worst possible time.

[listicle id=42002]

Saints Twitter reactions to Michael Thomas-C.J. Gardner-Johnson fight

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas was suspended for Week 5’s Chargers game after a fight in practice with C.J. Gardner-Johnson

[jwplayer rib53Gbf-ThvAeFxT]

The New Orleans Saints suspended wide receiver Michael Thomas for Week 5’s game with the Los Angeles Chargers after an altercation during practice with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (who also goes by “Ceedy Duce”), and it drew a range of reactions from NFL fans across social media.

It’s understandable that people would be frustrated by this. Thomas hasn’t played since suffering an ankle sprain back in Week 1, and he’s experienced enough to know better than to swing at a teammate (especially when they’ve got their helmet on). His team has a 2-2 record and could have really used his help.

But he and Gardner-Johnson are two of the most competitive guys on the team, and they’ve gotten into scraps before. Hopefully Thomas getting benched sends a strong enough message from Sean Payton to keep tempers from flaring up again later on down the road.

 

[vertical-gallery id=38860]

PFF: C.J. Gardner-Johnson led the NFL’s defensive backs in Week 1 stops

Pro Football Focus lauded New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who had a great game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

[jwplayer QjcXdgMm-ThvAeFxT]

C.J. Gardner-Johnson had a strong rookie year for the New Orleans Saints, but he’s elevated his game to open his second season in the NFL. Gardner-Johnson (whose new moniker of “Ceedy Duce” has not been reflected on the Saints roster, or his jersey) all but flew out of the gate in Week 1 to earn serious recognition from the analysts at Pro Football Focus.

PFF maintains a signature stat for defensive stops that is defined as “tackles that constitute a loss for the offense.” These aren’t just tackles for a loss of yards; context matters for each down played:

  • On a first down, if the offense gets 45% of the way to a first down or less
  • On a second down, if the offense gets 60% of the way to a first down or less
  • On a third or fourth down, if the offense doesn’t get a first down

And Gardner-Johnson outplayed the rest of the NFL in this category after Week 1’s slate of games. PFF credited him with more defensive stops than any other safety or cornerback, and the third-most of all players.

Gardner-Johnson was a huge part of the Saints’ success in bottling up the Buccaneers run game. Tampa Bay was determined to run on first downs against lighter Saints defensive packages (where they predominately fielded five or six defensive backs rather than extra linebackers), but Gardner-Johnson was impressive. His first four tackles each came on first-and-10 run plays, limiting the Buccaneers to gains of just 4, 2, 1, and 2 yards. He had two other tackles on first-down run plays that stopped Tampa Bay short of 2-yard gains.

That sort of effectiveness in making tackles in space — on downs where the offense has an advantage on paper, putting bigger blockers against lighter defenders — has a ripple effect on the rest of the defense. More short stops on first down puts the offense into longer spots to convert on subsequent downs, shifting leverage back New Orleans’ way. It’ll take more quality reps like these from Gardner-Johnson to keep the Saints in the win column.

[vertical-gallery id=37752]

WATCH: Emmanuel Butler picks up where he left off at Saints training camp

Emmanuel Butler impressed again at New Orleans Saints training camp, bullying defenders while connecting with Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill

[jwplayer 28S7U2VW-ThvAeFxT]

The darling of last year’s New Orleans Saints training camp was rookie wide receiver Emmanuel Butler, who made the jump from Northern Arizona to give defenders fits all throughout the summer. But an injury after an awkward landing in practice slowed him down, and he only suited up for one preseason game before spending the year on the practice squad.

That experience must have paid off, because Butler has quickly resumed his spot in the training camp highlight reel. The 23-year old stood out in one-on-one drills, outleaping Ceedy Duce (the safety formerly known as C.J. Gardner-Johnson) for a high pass from Jameis Winston. See it for yourself:

But it wasn’t the first time Butler outplayed Duce on Monday. He also connected with Taysom Hill on a route deep downfield, catching the pass in stride after having separated from No. 22. It’s a beaut:

We’ll see if Butler is able to play his way into the first-team offense and draw some targets from Drew Brees. It’s encouraging to see him doing so well in individual work, but his success in a bigger spot with the starting offense will do more to decide whether he makes the opening-day roster or spends another season on the practice squad.

[vertical-gallery id=36627]

C.J. Gardner-Johnson says he’s changing his name

Former Florida Gators DB and New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson said on Instagram that he’s changing his name to Ceedy Duce.

[jwplayer 2CPn5E98-ThvAeFxT]

One of the most electrifying players for the New Orleans Saints will be answering to a new name in 2020: second-year safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson announced on his personal Instagram account that he is changing his name to “Ceedy Duce,” describing his decision as it being “time to pave my way for my own.”

It’s not the first time the safety formerly known as Gardner-Johnson has switched things up. He spent his first two years with the Florida Gators listed as Chauncey Gardner Jr.; in his junior year, he hyphenated his last name to honor his stepfather Brian Johnson.

And when he went pro, he began going by C.J., rather than “Chauncey Jr.” So this isn’t a unprecedented behavior for him, though the meaning behind “Ceedy Duce” isn’t very clear. For now, the roster on the official Saints website lists him as C.J. Gardner-Johnson. We’ll keep an eye out for when and if it changes.

Gardner-Johnson, or Duce, joined the Saints as a fourth-round draft pick last summer and rapidly climbed the depth chart for his playmaking ability. The 5-foot-11, 210-pound defensive back started 7 of 16 games played, doing most of his damage while covering the slot. He deflected 8 passes while returning an interception 28 yards, and fielding a fumble 37 yards. 38 of his 49 combined tackles were solo stops, including half a dozen tackles for loss.

It’s a promising start to his career. Now we’ll see whether he can carve out a starting job while surrounded by a group of veterans including Malcolm Jenkins, P.J. Williams, and Patrick Robinson. Whether he ends up playing mostly in the box as a safety or in the slot as the team’s nickel defender, he’s sure to make an impact.

[lawrence-related id=36846,23464,36013]

[vertical-gallery id=36627]