Ex-Lions Super Bowl Champion Turns Down Reunion Offer to Join Packers Workout in Shocking NFC North Twist

Green Bay, WI – October 17, 2025

The Green Bay Packers are quietly making moves behind the scenes — and one of them just sent shockwaves through the NFC North. With injuries piling up in their secondary, the Packers are bringing in a proven veteran to inject toughness and leadership into a unit that’s struggled to find its rhythm.

According to multiple league sources, Green Bay extended a workout invitation to a familiar name in the division — one who knows what it takes to lead a defense built on emotion and grit.

That name is C.J. Gardner-Johnson. The former Detroit Lions safety has reportedly turned down a reunion offer from his old team to instead take part in a workout with the Green Bay Packers, signaling a stunning turn in his NFL journey.

Just days after being released by the Baltimore Ravens, Gardner-Johnson had the opportunity to return to Detroit — the team he once helped energize during their emotional 2023 playoff run. But he declined, explaining,

“Detroit was a chapter I’m proud of, but I’m looking for a team that’s ready to push forward — not look back. The Packers have that hunger.”

Green Bay’s need is urgent. Star safety Xavier McKinney remains limited by a hamstring issue, while Anthony Johnson Sr. is questionable heading into Sunday’s game. Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley has been vocal about finding a veteran presence who can command respect in the locker room — and Gardner-Johnson fits that mold perfectly.

Known for his fire, versatility, and swagger, Gardner-Johnson can play both safety and slot corner, bringing a combination of physicality and personality that the Packers have lacked since the start of the season. A source close to the team told

ESPN, “He loves what Green Bay is building — the discipline, the chemistry, the young core. He sees this as a place to lead again, not just survive.”

For Lions fans, the move stings. A player who once embodied Detroit’s underdog spirit is now crossing enemy lines to join their oldest rival. But for Gardner-Johnson, this isn’t betrayal — it’s business.

“I don’t run from challenges,” he said. “I run toward them — and Green Bay feels like the right one.”

Whether the Packers choose to sign him after the workout remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear: C.J. Gardner-Johnson is betting on himself — and in the NFC North, that makes his comeback story one of the most compelling of the season.

Stay tuned to ESPN!

How to watch Ravens at Browns: TV channel and streaming options for September 14

📢 Ravens vs Browns – Full Viewing Guide (Sept 14, 2025)

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Matchup: Baltimore Ravens 🆚 Cleveland Browns
📍 Venue: M&T Bank Stadium – Baltimore, Maryland
🗓 Date: Sunday, September 14, 2025
⏰ Kickoff: 1:00 PM ET

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TV Coverage (USA)

Live on CBS nationwide.
Check your local CBS affiliate for regional availability.

💻 Streaming Options

Paramount+ 📱💻 – Available on both Essential & Premium plans when the game airs on your local CBS station.
NFL+ (U.S. only) – Live streaming of local and primetime games on mobile/tablet. Premium tier includes full and condensed replays.

🌍 International Access

🇬🇧 UK & Ireland: Live on Sky Sports
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🌐 Outside U.S.: NFL Game Pass International (DAZN) – Every game live, replays, highlights, RedZone & NFL Network (excludes Canada & China).

🎙 Radio & Audio Coverage

Baltimore Ravens
: 98 Rock (97.9 FM), WBAL (1090 AM), Ravens official mobile app & website.
Cleveland Browns: ESPN 850, 92.3 The Fan, 98.5 WNCX, Browns official mobile app & website.
SiriusXM: Nationwide satellite radio coverage for both teams.

✅ Quick Recap

Fans in the U.S.: 📺 CBS | 💻 Paramount+ | 📱 NFL+
Fans International: 🇬🇧 Sky Sports | 🌍 DAZN (Game Pass International)
Audio everywhere: 🎧 SiriusXM, team apps, local FM networks

🔥 Week 2 sets the stage for a fierce AFC North showdown — Ravens and Browns fans around the globe will have no shortage of ways to watch and listen as the 2025 season continues!