Veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s stay with the Baltimore Ravens lasted only a week with multiple reports on Tuesday of his release from their practice squad.
The move was an amicable mutual decision, per the reports, after the Ravens did not add Gardner-Johnson to the active roster for Sunday’s game, a 17-3 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The Ravens instead played safety Alohi Gilman, who like Gardner-Johnson was brought in on Oct. 7. Baltimore acquired Gilman and a fifth-round draft pick in 2026 from the Los Angeles Chargers in exchange for edge rusher Odafe Oweh and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Gilman, 28, made seven tackles in his Ravens debut.
Gardner-Johnson’s agent, Kevin Conner, told ESPN that, “After the Ravens traded for a safety, we were looking for a clearer path to play.”
After winning a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, Gardner-Johnson was traded to Houston in March and released by the Texans after three games on Sept. 23.
Houston’s KPRC 2 reported at the time that there was “friction” in the locker room that involved his criticism of teammates, complaints about his role and a trade request.
Gardner-Johnson, 27, recorded 15 tackles and one quarterback hit during the Texans’ 0-3 start.
Houston acquired Gardner-Johnson from Philadelphia on March 11 in exchange for offensive lineman Kenyon Green and a 2026 draft pick swap.
Gardner-Johnson has 18 interceptions, 51 pass breakups, four sacks and 319 tackles in 77 career regular-season games (64 starts) with the New Orleans Saints (2019-21), Eagles (2022, 2024), Detroit Lions (2023) and Texans.
He also has 51 tackles and one interception in 13 playoff games (10 starts), including all four last postseason with Philadelphia.
New Orleans selected Gardner-Johnson in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
