Texans Issue Massive Injury Update on C.J. Gardner-Johnson

After an initial injury scare in training camp had placed doubt on the status of Houston Texans' safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson not being ready to go for Week 1, it seems like the veteran defensive back might be on track to play after all, vs. the Los Angeles Rams.

According to head coach DeMeco Ryans, Gardner-Johnson has been "progressing well" in his recovery and is expected to be on the field for the Texans in Week 1 vs. the Rams.

“C.J. [Gardner-Johnson] is doing really well, progressing fine. We expect him to be ready for Week 1,” Ryans told reporters on Sunday.

Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said safety CJ Gardner-Johnson is “progressing well” and the Texans “expect him to be ready for Week 1.”

Gardner-Johnson has been out with a knee injury since the early Aug.
— DJ Bien-Aime (@Djbienaime) September 1, 2025

To see Gardner-Johnson on track to be in the mix vs. the Rams is a massive lift for this Texans secondary that had been beaten up with injuries across the stretch of preseason and camp.

Veteran Jimmie Ward has been dealing with a foot injury paired with some legal troubles to keep him sidelined all throughout the lead-up to the season, while rookie Jaylen Reed had been placed on Injured Reserve earlier last week with a knee injury.

Gardner-Johnson initially went down with the scary knee injury to sideline him for a few weeks right before their first week of preseason vs. the Minnesota Vikings, an injury that led to him being carted off the practice field and initial questions of whether his entire season would even be in jeopardy. Instead, the veteran safety turned out to avoid anything serious, with signs now pointing towards him being able to suit up just in time for their regular season's kickoff.

Gardner-Johnson comes off a Super Bowl-winning season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played and started 16 games in the back-end, collecting 59 combined tackles, a career-high 12 passes defended, and logging six interceptions in the process.

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In March, the 27-year-old would end up being dealt to the Texans in exchange for former first-round offensive lineman Kenyon Green. Now, after some lingering injury questions for what his availability may hold to begin the year, Gardner-Johnson looks positioned for a big seventh-career season in Houston, and seemingly on pace to suit up for Week 1.

Gardner-Johnson and the Texans' secondary will be set to take on Matthew Stafford and this Los Angeles offense on Sunday, September 7th, kicking off at 3:25 PM CT.

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