Reports initially indicated that Houston Texans defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson possibly suffered a tear to the ACL in his right knee. However, later reports clarified that Gardner-Johnson did not tear the ACL, and more evaluations will be conducted to ascertain the extent of the injury.
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As reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, Gardner-Johnson was covering wide receiver John Metchie III during a practice session in West Virginia when the injury happened. While attempting to make a play, he fell to the ground and grabbed his leg.
Texans players gathered around Gardner-Johnson as silence descended upon the field. The NFL’s interceptions leader in 2022 was unable to support his weight on his leg and needed assistance onto a cart to be taken for assessment.
“It’s difficult when you witness a player go down on the field like that and not get up immediately” Texans head coach Demeco Ryans commented afterward. “I’m always concerned as a head coach whenever I see anyone fall to the ground; it’s hard to watch.”
Gardner-Johnson, 27, played last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he contributed to their Super Bowl LIX victory. He recorded 59 tackles and six interceptions in 2024 and has secured 13 interceptions in the last three seasons.
Following one season with the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson was traded in March to Houston in a deal that sent guard Kenyon Green to Philadelphia. The Texans intended for him to fill Eric Murray’s role in their defensive backfield after Murray signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gardner-Johnson started his NFL career with three seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He then joined the Eagles in 2022 before moving on to the Detroit Lions in 2023. After only three games with the Lions, he sustained a torn pectoral muscle and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. That offseason, he agreed to a three-year contract to return to Philadelphia.
