WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The injury bug struck on the final day of practice for the Houston Texans in West Virginia, with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffering a right leg injury.
Tests revealed Thursday night that Gardner-Johnson's ACL is intact, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Texans are conducting more testing to determine the extent of the injury.
During a scrimmage at the Greenbrier Resort, Gardner-Johnson tackled wideout John Metchie III. After making contact, Gardner-Johnson fell to the ground, couldn't move his lower right leg and writhed in pain as the practice fell silent.
Players and coaches surrounded Gardner-Johnson, and the medical staff helped him onto a cart. Gardner-Johnson couldn't put pressure on his right leg.
The Texans traded left guard Kenyon Green to the Philadelphia Eagles in March for Gardner-Johnson, who was supposed to replace 2024 starting safety Eric Murray after he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency on a three-year, $22.5 million deal.
Gardner-Johnson's injury could be a devastating blow to a secondary that features All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback Kamari Lassiter, safety Calen Bullock and nickel Jalen Pitre, who led the Texans to the second-most interceptions last season (19).
Adding Gardner-Johnson, who had six interceptions in 2024 (tied for third in the NFL) and has 18 in his career, was supposed to elevate a defense that ranked sixth in passing yards allowed (201 YPG) and 13th in scoring defense (21.9 PPG) last season.
If Gardner-Johnson misses time, the Texans would lean on M.J. Stewart or Russ Yeast to replace him. Also, Pitre has experience at safety, a position he played from 2022 to 2023. Jimmie Ward is on the physically unable to perform list and had legal issues in June before being arrested again Thursday.