Former Detroit Lions safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is receiving his release from the Houston Texans, according to multiple reports on Tuesday.

The 27-year-old was expected to be an important part of Houston’s defense moving forward, having recently converted over $6.5 million of his salary into a signing bonus.

However, reports emerged that there was friction behind the scenes with Gardner-Johnson complaining about his role and even communicating that he wanted to be traded, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson .

Gardner-Johnson was in his first season with the Texans after being traded by the Philadelphia Eagles alongside a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for guard Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-rounder, during the offseason. Green is no longer with the Eagles, either.

In three games, G

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