Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans addressed the surprise decision to release C.J. Gardner-Johnson after just three games this season.
Speaking to reporters for the first time since the move was announced, Ryans revealed it “was my decision” to release the veteran safety.
“I know what’s best for my team… Coming from me, the head coach, it was the best for our team. That’s why I made the decision,” Ryans said.
The Texans released Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, two days after a 17-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars that dropped their record to 0-3.
Gardner-Johnson started each of the first three games with Houston. He was on the field for 96.2 percent of the team’s defensive snaps (202 out of a possible 210).
Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the Texans’ decision to move on from Gardner-Johnson came after some recent behind the scenes “friction” over his role and usage in their scheme.
Wilson also noted that Gardner-Johnson communicated that he wanted to be traded.
Instead, the Texans released him rather than trying to see if they could recoup an asset in a trade. They acquired him in March from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for former first-round pick Kenyon Green and a fifth-round selection in the 2025 draft.
Gardner-Johnson has had issues sticking with teams throughout his NFL career. He did spent his first three seasons with the New Orleans Saints from 2019 to ’21, but hasn’t had more than one consecutive year with a club since then.
The Saints traded Gardner-Johnson to Philadelphia before the start of the 2022 season. He then signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions as a free agent in March 2023.
Philadelphia brought Gardner-Johnson back on a three-year free-agent contract in March 2024. He started all 20 games for the team last season, including the playofffs, to help the Eagles win Super Bowl 59.
In his brief stint with the Texans, Gardner-Johnson recorded 15 combined tackles and one quarterback hit.
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