CJ Gardner-Johnson Reveals Reasons Behind His Texans Release

CJ Gardner-Johnson has opened up about his unexpected departure from the Texans in September. In a recent interview, the 28-year-old safety shared that the situation began during training camp, stemming from an altercation with someone connected to the team’s general manager.

“If they were going to cut me, just do it,” Gardner-Johnson remarked. “But I wasn’t going to give anyone a reason to make that happen. I mean, I’m not causing chaos here. There’s no one in the locker room saying I’m an issue.” He added that his media presence was strong and implied that negative influences from the inside could sway decisions unfairly.

In a rather bold statement, he said, “That’s how it went down. In Houston, someone, who isn’t officially part of the team, called me a bad name while at Greenbrier. Apparently, they mentioned it to the GM, and before I knew it, I was cut.”

The Texans had traded for Gardner-Johnson from the Super Bowl-winning Eagles back in March 2025, but his time in Houston lasted just three games before the team released him.

Reports at the time indicated that his exit was linked to “some behind-the-scenes friction,” which included complaints about his role on the team and his desire for more playing time, eventually leading him to express a wish to be traded.

Texans general manager Nick Caserio commented on the situation, stating, “We gave it a shot, but it didn’t go as planned. Now, we need to focus on our current roster.” He expressed no regret, emphasizing that while it was a challenge, they are ready to move on.

Looking ahead, Gardner-Johnson is set to join the Ravens’ practice squad for a week before continuing the season with the Bears. He signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Bills back in March.