The Houston Texans are not quite done with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. That is despite him now being a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Gardner-Johnson has not played for or been a member of the Texans’ organization since Week 3.
That was the Texans’ third straight loss to begin the season. They won two games in a row before entering their bye in Week 6.
Still, Gardner-Johnson will have a lasting effect on what the Texans can do the rest of the way.
Texans Still Paying Price for C.J. Gardner-Johnson Trade
GettyC.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Texans acquired Gardner-Johnson in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles this past offseason. He joined the Ravens’ practice squad, but remains on the Texans’ books in a sense for the rest of this season and next.
“Free-agent safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is signing with Ravens practice squad, per his agent Kevin Conner of @unisportsmgmt,” Schefter reported on X on October 7. “Gardner-Johnson still gets his fully guaranteed 2025 salary with the Texans so there is little financial impact for the Ravens.”
Texans general manager Nick Caserio said the Texans “Took a shot on goal, didn’t work out.”
Gardner-Johnson was on a three-year, $27 million contract that the Texans took on when they acquired him from the Eagles. Per Over The Cap, Gardner-Johnson counts $2.6 million against the Texans’ books in 2025 and $5.7 million in 2026.
Texans HC DeMeco Ryans Gets Honest About C.J. Gardner-Johnson
GettyHouston Texans head coach Demeco Ryans declines a penalty against the Baltimore Ravens.
That the Texans decided to move on despite their investment in him – both financially and the loss of Green – speaks volumes about their conviction in the decision. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans took full ownership of the move.
“It’s my decision to move on. I know what’s best for my team,” Ryans told media members in September after the move. “I’m not going to go into all the details of it. It was coming from me, the head coach. It’s my team. It was the best for our team, and that’s why I made the decision. So, I’m not going in any further details on it.”
Gardner-Johnson posted a Bible verse to his Instagram following his release from the Texans, which came as a surprise to the NFL world.
The decision came amid friction in the locker room and Gardner-Johnson’s trade request.
“Among the issues that arose with Gardner-Johnson, per sources: criticism of teammates in the secondary, including the size of one player’s contract, complaints about his role, including a desire to blitz more frequently, and a trade request along with him making frequent comparisons to what he was accustomed to with the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl championship squad,” Wilson wrote in September.
“There was also a recurring tendency from Gardner-Johnson to allow game-changing plays, including a touchdown allowed against the Los Angeles Rams to tight end Davis Allen in the season-opener that was incorrectly attributed to cornerback Kamari Lassiter in addition to costly breakdowns against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars.”
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Reunited With Fellow Trade Chip
GettyC.J. Gardner-Johnson #8 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As part of the trade to land Gardner-Johnson, the Texans sent offensive lineman Kenyon Green to the Eagles. Green was the No. 15 overall pick of the 2022 draft by the Texans.
“Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Kenyon Green were traded for each other back in March in a deal between the Eagles and Texans,” “Locked On Ravens” host Kevin Oestreicher posted on X on October 7.
“Seven months later, both are now on the Ravens practice squad.”
Whether either of the former Texans, Gardner-Johnson and Green, remains to be seen, but the Ravens’ adding them at this juncture also speaks volumes.
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