The safety went down with an apparent leg injury on Thursday morning. According to reports, he had to be carted off the field.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — A key piece of the Texans’ secondary went down with an injury on Thursday during practice in West Virginia.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson had to be carted off the field, according to reports.
In early March, Houston traded 2022 first-round pick Kenyon Green to the Eagles in exchange for Gardner-Johnson. The deal also included a 2026 draft pick swap — with the Eagles receiving a fifth-round pick and the Texans getting a sixth-round pick in return.
Gardner-Johnson, a playmaking veteran safety, added experience to a Texans secondary looking to build on its success under head coach DeMeco Ryans.
Now, it appears they’ll be forced to lean on other options.
“It’s heartbreaking when you see a guy go down on the field like that and doesn’t get up quickly,” Ryans said. “So, I’m always nervous as a head coach anytime I see anybody hit the ground; it’s tough to watch.”
While the severity of his injury is not yet known, he was reportedly very upset and not able to put weight on his right leg.
“So, we’ll see, we’ll evaluate him, see where he is. But, no update at this time,” Ryans said.