The Houston Texans' choice to release C.J. Gardner-Johnson took many by surprise. After all, he's a proven veteran safety and Super Bowl champion, plus the team just traded for him roughly six months ago. However, the tea leaves suggest that it was only a matter of time before the two sides went their separate ways.
Recent intel from two of the most tapped-in Texans reporters details a fractured relationship between Gardner-Johnson, his teammates and the organization. He ostensibly alienated himself from the group due to frustration over defensive responsbilities (or lack thereof) while being hard on Houston's other defensive backs. The added context provides clarity on a decision that otherwise appeared questionable on the surface.
Texans insiders paint clear picture of ugly breakup following C.J. Gardner-Johnson release
Internal frustration was "building" before Houston ultimately cut Gardner-Johnson, per DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. The insider shared a 2-plus minute video on X (formerly known as Twitter), highlighting "communcation" and "accountability" issues that factored into the outcome. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans echoed similar sentiments when addressing the media prior to the news, foreshadowing the move, whether inadvertently or not.
" ... it hasn't been great," Ryans said when asked about Houston's secondary woes (h/t Bien-Aime). "When you see a big play that happens on our defense, somewhere along the lines, there's a bust in communication. It all starts with communication, and it hasn't been as crisp as it needs to be. We see that. We have to make some adjustments there to make sure we get it corrected."
Moreover, KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson cited Gardner-Johnson being hypercritical "among the issues" the Texans experienced "behind the scenes," which also included a trade request. The 27-year-old's presence in the locker room, specifically toward his now-ex secondary mates, was excessive. So, talent aside, Houston came to the conclusion that dismissing him was the best way to move forward.
Considering Gardner-Johnson is a notoriously outspoken player, it's not entirely shocking to hear he was jawing at people and took it too far. But doing this to his comrades? That's stunning no matter how much smack you talk.
Gardner-Johnson's time with the Texans officially ends after just three games and starts. He recorded 15 tackles and quarterback hits while logging a 96 percent defensive snap share rate. Eighth-year pro M.J. Stewart is the "next man up," according to Wilson.