Houston Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson will miss the 2025 NFL season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Thursday's practice. The seven-year veteran will undergo surgery to repair the injury, KPRC2's Aaron Wilson reports.
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According to Wilson, Gardner-Johnson was defending wide receiver John Metchie III during a scrimmage in West Virginia when the injury occurred. As he went to make a tackle he went to the ground and clutched his leg.
Texans players took a knee near Gardner-Johnson as silence took over the field. The NFL's interceptions leader in 2022 was unable to put weight on his leg as he was helped onto a cart to be taken to be evaluated.
"It's heartbreaking when you see a guy go down on a field like that and doesn't get up quickly" Texans head coach Demeco Ryans said afterward. "I'm always nervous as a head coach anytime I see anybody hit the ground, it's tough to watch."
Gardner-Johnson, 27, spent last season with the Philadelphia Eagles where he helped them win Super Bowl LIX. He had 59 tackles and six interceptions in 2024 and has picked off 13 passes over the past three seasons.
After one season back with the Eagles, Gardner-Johnson was dealt in March to Houston in a trade that sent guard Kenyon Green to Philadelphia. The Texans had plans for him to replace Eric Murray in their secondary after Murray signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Gardner-Johnson began his NFL career with three seasons with the New Orleans Saints. He joined the Eagles 2022 before moving on to the Detroit Lions in 2023. After only three games with the Lions, he suffered a torn pectoral and missed the rest of the season. That offseason, he signed a three-year deal to return to Philadelphia.
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