The Chicago Bears signed defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson this week to provide depth at an injury-riddled secondary, and the Bears already know where he’ll line up.
With Kyler Gordon landing on injured reserve last week, Chicago has a hole at nickel cornerback, where Nick McCloud has proven not to be the answer. But Gardner-Johnson just might be the guy. Head coach Ben Johnson confirmed that Gardner-Johnson will play in the slot as he gets reacquainted with Dennis Allen’s defense.
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“We’ll lock him in in one spot and have him learn the defense,” Johnson said. “Obviously he’s been with (Allen) so he should have some familiarity, but he’s also bounced around to a few different other systems over the last few years. We’ll see how quickly it comes back to him and whether he’ll be ready to go this week or not.”
Gardner-Johnson is eager to return to the slot, where he got his start with Allen in New Orleans. He believes the switch back to nickel provides him an opportunity to thrive.
“Really, that’s how I started my career,” Gardner-Johnson said. “It gives me a chance to be closer to the ball, make plays and make it easier on the guys on the back end. When I’m closer to the ball, Coach DA and Coach Ben know what I can do. DA drafted me, so this scheme actually molded me into what I am today. Appreciative to him.”
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Gardner-Johnson said the switch from safety to nickel gives him the ability to simply listen and “go execute,” where it’s about “seeing what’s in front of me so that I can play fast.”
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears confirm where C.J. Gardner-Johnson will line up on defense
