Lions’ C.J. Gardner-Johnson legally changing name to Ceedy Duce

Detroit Lions defensive back previously known as Chauncey “C.J.” Gardner-Johnson announced on social media Friday that he intends to legally change his name. His new moniker: Ceedy Duce.

It’s actually a name that he has tried to go by before, in 2020, while he was playing for the New Orleans Saints. But the move from his given name to Duce didn’t stick then.

This time, he indicated he’s going through the legal process for a name change.

“Officially changing my name to Ceedy Duce court documents otw,” Duce (formerly Gardner-Johnson) posted on X/Twitter.

Duce has been on injured reserve since tearing his pectoral muscle in a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. It’s unclear if he’ll play again this season, but it remains a distinct possibility for the 5-2 Lions.

Duce — then Gardner-Johnson — got into a war of words with 49ers star Deebo Samuel while on IR

If you’re new to this verbal scuffle, the two haven’t liked each other since the NFC Championship game. Duce is a safety for the Lions, while Deebo Samuel is a hybrid receiver/running back for the 49ers. Duce switched teams in the offseason. He played for the Eagles in the title game when they beat up on the 49ers. You could probably attribute the loss to quarterback Brock Purdy tearing a tendon in his elbow. He couldn’t do much beyond handing off the ball.

Meanwhile, Duce hasn’t played much for his new team.

The social media chatter started again recently, when San Francisco lost their first game of the season. In a pre-game skirmish in Cleveland, Duce thought Samuel didn’t get tough until offensive tackle Trent Williams joined the pushing.

Duce posted a video taunting Samuel, saying he’s just a running back (horrors), while likening him to a little boy.

“Another thing, bro don’t be friendly when you see me,” Duce said. “Because you’d be so flashy … you have all that talk you’d be doing when we’re running around wherever 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 going to sit here and play with you, little boy. Just cause you’re bad and people gave you a little a little clout, man, you ain’t nothing, bro. Stop playing.”

Samuel’s last volley used a clown emoji and a clip of a fight. He added in the tweet “Boy stop playing before you get a rewind of this….. boy sit down.”

And Samuel may be missing games as well. He left the game against the Browns with a shoulder injury in the first quarter and didn’t return.

But who knows, maybe these two can carry on their jousting in an actual game, if both regain their health and the Lions and 49ers draw each other in the playoffs.