Texans launch security C.J. Gardner-Johnson after simply three video games

HOUSTON — In a shock transfer, the Texans launched security C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, the group introduced.

In three begins, Gardner-Johnson had 15 tackles with no interceptions or go breakups.

The Texans traded their 2022 first-round decide — left guard Kenyon Green — to the Philadelphia Eagles for Gardner-Johnson in March, hoping so as to add a ball hawk. Gardner-Johnson had six interceptions in 2024 for the Eagles of their march to a Super Bowl title.

Gardner-Johnson has struggled to choose up coach DeMeco Ryans’ defensive scheme this season, which has contributed to a number of large performs towards the secondary by means of the primary three weeks for the Texans, who’re 0-3 to start out the season.

On Monday, Ryans was requested in regards to the communication between his secondary’s gamers, admitting “it hasn’t been great.”

“When you see a big play that happens on our defense, somewhere along the lines, there’s a bust in communication,” Ryans stated. “It all starts with communication, and it hasn’t been as crisp as it needs to be. We see that. We have to make some adjustments there to make sure we get it corrected.”

Each of the Texans’ three losses has been by 7 factors or much less. At minimal, in line with group sources, Gardner-Johnson has allowed three large performs in these video games which have contributed to the opposing offense scoring touchdowns, including that Gardner-Johnson has struggled to persistently guard the right opposing participant when required to “match coverage” primarily based on the Texans’ defensive name and the routes run by the offense, struggles that additionally occurred throughout walk-throughs within the lead-up to video games.

During Houston’s Week 1 matchup towards the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a 13-yard landing to tight finish Davis Allen, who ran a nook route into the top zone, which Gardner-Johnson was liable for. Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter tried to wash up the protection bust however wasn’t capable of run down Allen. Houston misplaced the sport 14-9.

In Week 2, Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield threw an over path to wideout Ryan Miller for a 20-yard landing on the sport’s opening drive. The Texans had been in Cover-2, which required Gardner-Johnson to cowl the deep proper half of the sector. He as an alternative jumped a 10-yard in-breaking route from Buccaneers wideout Sterling Shepard, exposing the deep half for the Miller scoring reception. The Texans misplaced 20-19.

Last week towards the Jacksonville Jaguars, Gardner-Johnson made a vital mistake with the sport knotted 10-10 late within the fourth quarter, leaping an out-breaking route by Parker Washington when he was liable for something over the center of the sector, Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence pounced on the error, hitting receiver Brian Thomas on a publish for a 46-yard reception right down to Houston’s 10-yard line towards man-to-man protection.

Houston would enable Jaguars operating again Travis Etienne to attain a play later in an effort to protect time for a game-rallying drive. But the injury was carried out and the Texans had been unable to search out the top zone, falling 17-10.

Compounding the protection busts, Gardner-Johnson has refused to take duty for his errors, rubbing his teammates the improper means, sources added, with one member of the group saying Gardner-Johnson “finger-pointed” as an alternative of proudly owning as much as the error.

The Texans host the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in Houston. Both groups are 0-3. The Texans are hoping improved chemistry will assist them break into the win column.