The Houston Texans will open their preseason against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, and a lot of fans are looking forward to seeing how the secondary will perform. From names like Derek Stingley Jr. to Jalen Pitre, as well as Kamari Lassiter and everyone in between, the Texans have no shortage of talented defensive backs, and the secondary could be among the NFL's best if everyone plays to their potential.
As talented as the group is, there's always room to improve. That's why the Texans acquired veteran DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Philadelphia Eagles in April, sending guard Kenyon Green back the other way in a deal that involved two draft picks. A former Super Bowl Champion and ex-NFL interceptions co-leader, Houston fans were excited to see what Gardner-Johnson could bring to the table.
Unfortunately, his Texans debut could be on hold for a while.
Texans DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson Carted Off During Thursday's Practice
Texans fans were dealt a massive scare on Thursday morning when KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson reported that Gardner-Johnson suffered an apparent knee injury during practice. Wilson added that silence fell over the field as everyone took a knee, which is rarely a good sign.
Making matters worse, ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime revealed that the Texans' offseason addition "can't put much pressure on his injured leg" and that he was carted off the practice field.
CJ Gardner Johnson can’t put much pressure on his injured leg as he hopped onto the cart.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) August 7, 2025
Regardless of how much time he'll miss, Gardner-Johnson's injury is the last thing that the Texans' secondary needed.
Cornerback Ronald Darby retired back in June, less than three months after joining Houston, while veteran safety Jimmie Ward was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list last week. That's without mentioning how DBs Jaylen Reed and Alijah Huzzie are also banged up at the moment.
In the meantime, it'll be interesting to see what Gardner-Johnson's injury means for his future. He's still under contract through 2026; however, his deal includes a potential out following the 2025 campaign, meaning the Texans could cut ties if they aren't confident in a full recovery. He is racking up quite the injury history after all, having missed most of the 2023 campaign with a torn pectoral muscle.
Regardless, it'll be tough to fill Gardner-Johnson's role if he does miss extended time.
The former Florida Gator has played nearly 90 games between the regular season and playoffs, and gained a ton of experience throughout the Eagles' Super Bowl 59 run, which Texans fans were hopeful he could pass down to the team's young ballhawks. The fact that he can play safety, cornerback, and in the slot would've added another layer to Houston's secondary.
For now, Texans fans are wishing Gardner-Johnson the speediest recovery, hoping that he can find a way to return to the gridiron before the 2025 NFL season is over.