In what comes as a fairly surprising move, the Houston Texans released C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday following the team’s Week 3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. What makes this move even more surprising is the state of Houston’s secondary. Already depleted and battling injuries, this is a phase of the defense that desperately needs depth, especially as the Texans sit winless with real questions about whether they can turn things around.
Reinforcements could be on the way soon, but right now, Gardner-Johnson seemed like someone the team needed, even if he wasn’t playing his best football. It remains to be seen how the Texans will replace his production, and if more context emerges on why the decision was made, but there’s no denying that Gardner-Johnson was a significant pickup this offseason.
Houston traded for him from the Philadelphia Eagles to help bolster the defense of what it believed could be a contending roster. He added toughness, versatility and veteran presence to a secondary that looked promising on paper before injuries hit. Gardner-Johnson even had a scare in training camp when the team initially feared he had torn his ACL, though further tests revealed the injury was less severe. He was able to recover and suit up, playing in three games this season before being waived. In that short time, he had already recorded 15 tackles.
The timing of this release, both in terms of roster needs and expectations, is what makes it so interesting. Depth in the secondary is thin, and Gardner-Johnson’s experience could have provided stability while the team worked through early struggles.
Now, Houston will need to adjust quickly, as the season is in danger of slipping away. What happens next, both for Gardner-Johnson and the Texans’ defense, will be worth watching closely.