It’s surprising how quickly things can shift.
Texans safety CJ Gardner-Johnson was thought to have a torn ACL injury during a training camp practice on Thursday. However, ESPN reports that this is not the case.
After more tests, it turns out Gardner-Johnson’s injury is “not very serious,” and his ACL remains intact.
Interestingly, the report mentioned that the timeline for his return doesn’t seem to be an issue with the regular season opener against the Rams upcoming.
This news must be a relief for the Texans, who were bracing for a more serious situation.
Gardner-Johnson was hurt while trying to tackle wide receiver John Metchie III.
As reported by KPRC2, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans initially feared the worst, describing the moment as “heartbreaking” and “tough to watch.”
Now, with the new understanding that Gardner-Johnson could be back soon, the team can breathe a bit easier.
At 27, he’s just finished a solid season with the Eagles, starting 16 regular season games and winning all four postseason games to clinch the championship with the Chiefs.
Gardner-Johnson had signed a three-year, $27 million contract with Philadelphia last season, following a time marred by injuries while with the Lions.
He eventually made his way to the Texans through a trade, with the team acquiring him along with the sixth pick of the 2026 draft in March.
Now joining Houston, he’s set to contribute to a team that’s coming off a 10-7 season, under the leadership of Ryans and young quarterback CJ Stroud.
The Texans have been hoping to push further since being bounced in the division round the last couple of seasons, and Gardner-Johnson could be a key piece in helping them achieve playoff success.
