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During the Houston Texans’ final training camp practice in West Virginia, a key defensive player suffered a serious injury, leading to a moment of silence.
The incident occurred during the Texans’ intrasquad scrimmage at The Greenbrier Resort, where defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down after making a tackle.
Gardner-Johnson appeared to be in pain and had difficulty moving his right leg. Teammates and coaches gathered around him before medical staff assisted him onto a cart.
Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 7, 2023, at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Gardner-Johnson was traded to Houston, where he was expected to fill a void at the safety position.
The Eagles received offensive lineman Kenyon Green in exchange for Gardner-Johnson, along with a draft pick swap.
With Gardner-Johnson’s injury, the Texans may turn to safeties M.J. Stewart or Russ Yeast to fill the gap in the lineup.
Houston Texans safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston on July 23, 2025. (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)
If Gardner-Johnson is unable to play, the Texans still have Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter in the secondary to maintain a strong defensive lineup.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on Nov. 3, 2022, in Houston. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Gardner-Johnson finished the 2024 season with six interceptions, showcasing his skills on the field.
Further details on Gardner-Johnson’s injury were sought from the Texans by Fox News Digital.
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