Texans release safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson after just three games - ESPN

HOUSTON — In a surprise move, the Texans released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, the team announced.

In three starts, Gardner-Johnson had 15 tackles with no interceptions or pass breakups.

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

Gardner-Johnson has struggled to pick up coach DeMeco Ryans' defensive scheme this season, which has contributed to several big plays against the secondary through the first three weeks for the Texans, who are 0-3 to start the season.

On Monday, Ryans was asked about the communication between his secondary's players, 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 said. «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 points or less. At minimum, according to team sources, Gardner-Johnson has allowed three big plays in those games that have contributed to the opposing offense scoring touchdowns, adding that Gardner-Johnson has struggled to consistently guard the correct opposing player when required to «match coverage» based on the Texans' defensive call and the routes run by the offense, struggles that also occurred during walk-throughs in the lead-up to games.

During Houston's Week 1 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Matthew Stafford threw a 13-yard touchdown to tight end Davis Allen, who