Detroit Lions safety CJ Gardner-Johnson finds more words for Baker Mayfield.
Following the Lions' 31-23 victory over the Buccaneers and advance to the NFC Championship Game, Gardner-Johnson delivered a message on Instagram Live to Mayfield, whom he intercepted on Tampa's first drive after the two engaged in a verbal altercation with the media during the game preparation.
Gardner-Johnson came down on a tip pass from the hands of Mike Evans and returned the ball to the Tampa 41, resulting in a field goal. After being forced out of bounds on the return, Gardner-Johnson threw the ball back to Mayfield as he jogged back to the Lions' bench.
In his live broadcast after the game, Gardner-Johnson said: “And I threw that (expletive) at you too. I hope you got it too. Be sure to send this with the jersey.”
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The week before the game, Gardner-Johnson praised Tampa Bay's pass catchers but said they needed a better quarterback than Mayfield to get them the ball. In response, Mayfield said the Lions' safeties needed to spend more time watching film after adding injured receiver Russell Gage to the receiving corps.
However, Gardner-Johnson and the Lions got the last laugh as they will advance to the NFC title game to play the San Francisco 49ers on the road while the Bucs' season is over. Gardner-Johnson, who has thrown two interceptions for Detroit since returning from injured reserve in Week 18, has a longstanding rivalry with 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel that dates back to the safety's time with the Eagles last season.
Gardner-Johnson spoke about this rivalry on social media in October while he was rehabilitating from his pectoral muscle injury.