Houston Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was released by the franchise as they go into Week 4, NFL Insider Ian Rappaport reported on Tuesday. Amid his departure, it has been revealed what led to the split between the veteran safety and the team's management.
Aaron Wilson, the Houston Texans beat reporter for NBC affiliate KPRC2, reported that CJ Gardner-Johnson communicated to the team that he wants to be traded after friction between him and the team management reached the boiling point.
Wilson reported, citing league sources, that Gardner-Johnson was unhappy with his role in the team. He was complaining about not being able to blitz enough in Texans head coach DeMeco Ryan's system.
Gardner-Johnson's trade was a surprise to many Texans fans, as he was acquired by the franchise just this off-season in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. In exchange, the Eagles received Kenyon Green and swapped a 2026 fifth-round draft pick for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
{{/usCountry}}Gardner-Johnson's trade was a surprise to many Texans fans, as he was acquired by the franchise just this off-season in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. In exchange, the Eagles received Kenyon Green and swapped a 2026 fifth-round draft pick for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.
{{/usCountry}}Gardner-Johnson is going out after starting all three regular-season games for Houston. He managed just 15 tackles, with the incompatibility with the team visible amid the Texans' defensive struggles.
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Could the Philadelphia Eagles re-sign CJ Gardner-Johnson?
With CJ Gardner-Johnson in the market for a new franchise, and the Eagles in need of reinforcement in defense as they look to retain the Super Bowl, it could have been a perfect marriage. But what comes in the way is an NFL rule that puts some restrictions on the reacquisition of a traded player.
NFL rules specify that a traded player needs to play at least four games for the traded club to become eligible for a return to his previous team. According to reports, the Eagles are not eligible to take in CJGJ as he played only three regular-season games for the Texans.