Texans Defender Fires Back at Critics Over Controversial Decision

This Houston Texans defender has fired back at his critics for a controversial decision he made.

Oct 8, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; General view of a Houston Texans helmet before a game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

The Houston Texans didn't make a whole lot of significant moves during the offseason, as they were incredibly limited by financial constraints.

However, the Texans did make one particularly notable defensive addition, swinging a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles for defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

Houston's secondary was already loaded as it was, so bringing Gardner-Johnson — a Super Bowl champion — aboard makes it that much deeper.

The problem is that Gardner-Johnson was not presence at Texans organized team activities this past week, which obviously caused quite a stir. Why was a new player not at OTAs?

But Gardner-Johnson has made sure to respond to any critics, revealing that he has been hard at work in a recent social media post.

“Y’all been wondering why I haven’t been at OTAs & sh*t.. I been getting right. I been working.” -@CGJXXIII 🗣️🗣️

Y’all quit Stressan, we good‼️ pic.twitter.com/2OsB0u70O0
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) May 29, 2025

Here's the thing about organized team activities: they are entirely voluntary, and a bunch of veterans around the NFL skip them. Gardner-Johnson is not exactly a trail blazer in that regard.

That being said, most would expect a player joining a new team to be present at offseason workouts just to get a feel for the system and to meet his new teammates.

Gardner-Johnson played in 16 games last season, racking up 59 tackles, six interceptions and 12 passes defended. The 27-year-old was originally selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft and has enjoyed a steady career ever since.

Houston ranked sixth in pass defense last year, and thanks to returning a defensive backfield full of stars and a new acquisition in Gardner-Johnson, it should once again be dominant in 2025.

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