Texans expect C.J. Gardner-Johnson (knee) to play Sunday

HOUSTON — Coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that he expects safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to be “ready for Week 1,” as the Houston Texans prepare to kick off the 2025 season against the Los Angeles Rams.

Gardner-Johnson has been sidelined since Aug. 7 with a knee injury that he suffered during a Texans scrimmage at the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. The injury appeared to be serious after he attempted to tackle former Texans wideout John Metchie III before falling to the ground. He couldn’t move his lower right leg and then needed assistance to get on a medical cart.

But Gardner-Johnson didn’t suffer any structural damage to the ACL and was sidelined for almost a month. Now he’s expected to practice this week and be a starter in the Texans secondary alongside safety Calen Bullock.

Houston acquired Gardner-Johnson in March in exchange for left guard Kenyon Green, who was the Texans’ 2022 first-round pick. Gardner-Johnson is expected to elevate a ball-hawking secondary that had the second-most interceptions last season (19), led by All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., cornerback Kamari Lassiter and nickel Jalen Pitre.