C.J. Gardner-Johnson eager for 49ers-Lions matchup, says Deebo Samuel “can’t run routes”

Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson isn't mincing words regarding his ongoing feud with San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The back-and-forth shows no signs of cooling down as Gardner-Johnson took to Instagram Live to express his eagerness for a potential face-off with the receiver and the 49ers.

"Bro, listen, don't be friendly when you see me because you be so flashy," Gardner-Johnson said in the video (h/t OurSF49ers). "You better hope all that talk you be doing when we see you all, whatever [playoff] round it may be … because I can guard you. You can't run routes. You're a running back. You're a running back.

"I ain't gonna sit here and play with you, little boy. Just because you got a little bag, people give you a little clout, and then you ain't nothing, bro. Stop playing."

With both teams sitting with matching 5-1 records, the 49ers and Lions could be headed toward a postseason clash. It's unknown if Gardner-Johnson would be part of that potential matchup. The safety suffered a torn pectoral during a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Lions are hopeful for a possible return this season, potentially during the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel is nursing a shoulder injury sustained in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns. However, the receiver is day-to-day, indicating he avoided a long-term injury.

The back-and-forth between Samuel and Gardner-Johnson started when the safety insinuated that Samuel backed away during a heated pre-game altercation between the 49ers and Browns, requiring tackle Trent Williams to intervene.

In response, Samuel fired back, saying, "Boy stop playing before you get a rewind of this….. boy sit down," accompanied by a clown emoji and a video highlighting a previous scuffle between Gardner-Johnson and Chicago Bears wide receiver Javon Wims.

Later, Gardner-Johnson asserted that Williams couldn't come to Samuel's aid either on or off the field. The 49ers receiver replied, "This is comedy. Catch me off the field because you barely on the field [bouncing around] on different teams."

Any future matchup between the two players promises to be an intriguing storyline, with many wondering how their verbal jousting might translate to the football field.