Former Florida defensive back CJ Gardner-Johnson may not be seeing the field again for a while.

The current Detroit Lions defender appears to have suffered a torn pectoral muscle, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport on Monday. For the time being, Johnson is out indefinitely with a fear that he could miss the remainder of the 2023 season.

Gardner-Johnson has been playing a notable role within the team’s defense, and there’s hardly a question that there will be a large void for the Lions to fill in his absence.

After finishing out the 2022 season with 67 combined tackles (61 solo), 8 passes defended and 1 sack, Garnder-Johnson has put up 13 combined tackles (12 solo) and 2 passes defended over a pair of games played in the 2023 regular season.

The Lions will look to hinge up their defensive effort where the secondary is concerned without Gardner-Johnson in the fold as they face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET at Ford Field.

Ifeatu Melifonwu is expected to be next in line at free safety, so all eyes will be on how he rises to the occasion for what could be for the remainder of the Lions’ 2023 matchups.