There are always moves happening around the NFL, and the latest one involved a former Lion. On Tuesday, it was reported that the Houston Texans decided to release safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
That move came as a shocker, but information was revealed as to why that happened. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reported that there were some problems behind the scenes that involved Gardner-Johnson complaining about his role and having a desire to blitz more. He was also critical of his teammates and didn't like his role. Gardner-Johnson even said he wanted to be traded and became a locker room problem.
This collection of things led to his surprising release, and the former Lion seemed to have worn his welcome with yet another team.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Was Released by the Texans on Tuesday
Back in March, the Eagles traded Gardner-Johnson to the Texans, who believed they were getting an enforcer on the backend, but the experiment only lasted three games. He has changed teams each offseason for the last four years, spending one season in Philadelphia, one in Detroit, then back to Philadelphia before landing with Houston.
While with the Lions, Gardner-Johnson tore his pec in Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season before returning in December. He finished with 17 total tackles, three pass breakups, and one interception.
While he has the traits to be a quality defender, it seems his attitude is a constant problem. The infamous trash talker has made his rounds around the league and is now seeking his fifth team. That is less than ideal for a player who was just an impact player for the Eagles during their Super Bowl-winning season.
The Florida product has a reputation for being a loud player, and getting released after just three weeks won't help him on the open market. Creating problems in the locker room due to unhappiness in his role isn't what teams want in a player. It seems like he's more of a headache than a quality playmaker.
In his three games with the Texans, he had 15 total tackles, a 63.4 overall grade, and a 58.9 coverage grade per PFF.
That isn't much to gloat about, and these reports will only make things harder for him on the open market. He will certainly get another opportunity, but the money will likely be on the lower end. He'll have to prove himself yet again, but history shows that he'll end up wearing out his stay with his team. Just like he did with the Eagles, Lions, and now Texans.