C.J. Gardner-Johnson carted off in major Texans injury concern

The Texans were hit with a major injury scare Thursday.

Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was carted off during training camp practice in West Virginia, according to beat writers on the scene.

Gardner-Johnson suffered a right leg injury while tackling wide receiver John Metchie III and couldn’t put any weight on the leg, per KPRC2 in Houston.

He also pounded the ground in frustration.

Texans coach DeMarco Ryans said it was “tough to watch” Garnder-Johnson go down, calling the scene “heartbreaking,” per KPRC2.

A serious injury to Gardner-Johnson would be a major blow to a Texans team looking to take the next step after getting eliminated in the divisional round each of the last two seasons.

The Texans acquired Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick from the Eagles in March for guard Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-rounder after he helped Philadelphia win Super Bowl 2025.

Gardner-Johnson told The Pivot podcast last month that he thinks the Eagles traded him because they’re “scared of a competitor. Simple as that.”

He added that he was blamed for a fight that broke out during one of the Eagles’ playoff practices.

“We had a little scrum at practice. Nothing, just offense versus defense, but who’s the culprit of it? Me,” he said. “I guess, because we’re competing. Well, you tell me the period is live. You’re telling us not to compete during a live period, but it’s a live period, and we’re getting ready for a playoff game?”

Gardner-Johnson signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Eagles in 2024 free agency for his second stint with the team after he played with them in 2022 following three seasons with the Saints.

He made just three appearances for the Lions during an injury-riddled 2023 season.