C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been medically cleared to return from his torn pectoral muscle and could be back at Detroit Lions practice as soon as next week.

Gardner-Johnson posted a thank-you message to his rehab team Wednesday, writing in an Instagram story: "THE PROCESS TO GET BACK WASN'T EASY BUT WE DID IT!"

Asked Thursday if Gardner-Johnson had been OK'd to return to football activities, Lions coach Dan Campbell said that's the report he received and that he and general manager Brad Holmes are still working through the logistics of when to start Gardner-Johnson's return-to-play clock.

Players can practice for up to 21 days in their return from injured reserve before they must be added to the 53-man roster.

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Campbell said Gardner-Johnson will not play Saturday against the Denver Broncos.

"It’s great news," Campbell said. "So it is back to what we said, he’s one of the X-Men. He’s got these mutant genes, because he has healed extremely quickly. And it is, he’s gotten the strength back, it is secure, and so yeah, he’s going to be ready to go here pretty soon."

Gardner-Johnson tore his pectoral muscle in the first quarter of a Week 2 loss to the Seattle Seahawks but finished the game and tied for the team lead with eight tackles.

He underwent surgery less than a week later and has spent nearly three months rehabbing near his home in Florida and in Allen Park with the team.

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The Lions have struggled recently on defense in Gardner-Johnson's absence and have juggled personnel at safety all fall. Tracy Walker initially replaced Gardner-Johnson, but Brian Branch added safety duties to his nickel role in early November and Ifeatu Melifonwu took over the starting job last week.

The Lions (9-4) visit the Minnesota Vikings (7-6) next Sunday in a game that could decide the NFC North, and close the season with a road game against the Dallas Cowboys and a home game with the Vikings.

The Lions, Cowboys (10-3), San Francisco 49ers (10-3) and Philadelphia Eagles (10-3) — Gardner-Johnson's old team — are in play for the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.

"Brad and I need to talk about (the specifics of when to bring him back), but it’s good news," Campbell said. "And certainly the plan’ll be let’s get him going ASAP, that would be the plan. Get him practicing, getting his legs back under him, get him in shape, football shape. But that’s great news. That’s a credit to him, too, now. He’s been working. He’s been working."

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' C.J. Gardner-Johnson cleared from pec injury