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CJ Gardner-Johnson signs with Ravens after surprise exit from Texans

Brian Jones Profile Picby: Brian Jones10/07/25brianjones_93
CJ Gardner Johnson
Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) celebrates after a defensive stop against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

CJ Gardner-Johnson, who was previously with the Houston Texans, is now a member of the Baltimore Ravens. Per Gardner-Johnson’s agent, Kevin Conner (via Adam Schefter of ESPN), the free-agent safety is signing with the Ravens’ practice squad. Schefter pointed out that Gardner-Johnson still receives his fully guaranteed 2025 salary with the Texans.

After spending the 2024 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, CJ Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Houston Texans in March of this year. The Texans released the former Florida Gators safety last month after he played in three games. In those three games, the 27-year-old recorded 15 tackles.

The Texans cutting Gardner-Johnson was a surprising move since they just added him to the roster. Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters that the move was his decision.

“It was my decision to move on,” Ryans said at the time, via the Houston Chronicle. “I know what’s best for my team. … Coming from me, the head coach, it was the best for our team. That’s why I made the decision.”

Looking at CJ Gardner-Johnson’s NFL career

Ryans then talked about how everyone on the team needs to be on the same page to reach their goals for the year. “It’s always my first rule or a team rule for our guys, always protect the team,” Ryans said. “It starts with me as a head coach to making sure everybody is on the same page with having a team-first mentality… It’ll never be about one person. It’ll never be about me personally. It’s collectively as a team, that’s how you go win. That’s how you do great things.”

Gardner-Johnson began his NFL career in 2019 when the New Orleans Saints selected him in the fourth round. He was with the Saints for three seasons before the team traded him to the Eagles before the 2022 season. In 2023, Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions and played in just three games due to a pectoral injury. He then signed a three-year deal with the Eagles in 2024 and helped the team win the Super Bowl. In his career, Gardner-Johnson has tallied 319 tackles, 18 interceptions, four sacks, and 51 passes defended in 77 games.