C.J. Gardner-Johnson Returns to Texans Practice Field
- Aug 19
- 2 min read
The Houston Texans received a boost of good news on Monday as safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was spotted working on the side field during practice.
This marks the first time Gardner-Johnson has been back on the field since his injury scare earlier in camp. As we wrote previously, there was initial concern it could be a season-ending ACL injury. That fear was quickly eased when further testing confirmed it was not an ACL tear, but questions lingered about his status and timeline.
In Gardner-Johnson’s absence, M.J. Stewart has seemingly been the next man up to fill the strong safety role — just as we had suspected. Stewart’s steady presence has helped stabilize the secondary, but there’s no question the Texans are eager to get their free agent addition back.
Today also brought another wrinkle at practice, as noted by Sam Warren of the Houston Chronicle. Jalen Pitre was lined up at high safety, a likely practice adjustment from head coach DeMeco Ryans in case shuffling continues or the situation takes a turn. It shows the Texans are preparing contingencies while Gardner-Johnson works back.
Seeing Gardner-Johnson on the field in any capacity is an encouraging development for both the Texans and their fans. While he’s not yet a full participant, this step signals progress in his rehab and fuels optimism that he could be ready for Week 1.
Gardner-Johnson was one of Houston’s key offseason acquisitions, expected to bring versatility, energy, and leadership to Ryans’ defense. His potential absence was a major storyline, but today’s update offers hope that the secondary will be closer to full strength when the season kicks off.
For now, it remains a day-by-day process, but Gardner-Johnson’s return to the side field is the clearest sign yet that the Texans might have dodged a major bullet.
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