2026 Defense Stats
TCKL
18
SACKS
0.0
INT
1
FF
0
TD
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2026 Fantasy Outlook
C.J. Gardner-Johnson did not have a traditional 2025 season, yet still found a way to make an impact. Gardner-Johnson started the season with the Houston Texans, starting the team’s first three games before being cut due to locker room issues. He signed on with the Ravens practice squad in Week 5 but was cut just one week later. Gardner-Johnson finally landed with the Chicago Bears in Week 9 thanks to several injuries in the defensive backfield and immediately found a home as a slot corner. In 10 games with Chicago, Gardner-Johnson made seven starts with 51 tackles (35 solo), five tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and two interceptions. Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with Buffalo this offseason and is expected to be another versatile piece with third-year safety Cole Bishop. Gardner-Johnson is not a player worth drafting in IDP leagues, but his role is worth monitoring. The veteran safety has a nose for the football (20 career interceptions) and showed that he can provide a steady floor as a tackler as a slot defender in Chicago last season. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
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IDP
Signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Bills in March of 2026.Gardner-Johnson logged five tackles (three solo) and two passes defensed, including one interception, in the Bills' 24-16 win over the Chargers on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw Gardner-Johnson a "meatball sub," according to commentator Tom Brady, early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game at the Bills' one-yard line. The pick resulted in the Bills taking a lead for the first time in an eventual 24-16 win. Gardner-Johnson played 68 of the team's 69 defensive plays in the contest.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert threw Gardner-Johnson a "meatball sub," according to commentator Tom Brady, early in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game at the Bills' one-yard line. The pick resulted in the Bills taking a lead for the first time in an eventual 24-16 win. Gardner-Johnson played 68 of the team's 69 defensive plays in the contest.
NFL Stats
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2026 NFL Game Log
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2026 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
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2026 C.J. Gardner-Johnson Split Stats
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Measurables Review
How do C.J. Gardner-Johnson's measurables compare to other safeties?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
5' 11"Weight
208 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.48 secShuttle Time
4.20 secCone Drill
7.03 secVertical Jump
36.0 inBroad Jump
117 inBench Press
17 repsHand Length
9.25 inArm Length
30.88 in
Past Fantasy Outlooks
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Houston's loaded defense added more ammunition when it traded with Philadelphia for Gardner-Johnson, who logged six interceptions, 12 passes defensed and 59 tackles over 16 regular-season games - and earned a Super Bowl ring. He ranked sixth among safeties with an 85.7 coverage grade in 2024. Adding to an elite secondary unit, the Texans are poised to make a deep playoff run on the strength of their defense and potentially give Gardner-Johnson a second consecutive ring.
More Fantasy News
Back to practice
Gardner-Johnson (calf) was a full participant in Thursday's training camp session, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Avoids major injury
Bills head coach Joe Brady said Monday that Gardner-Johnson suffered a lower calf strain Saturday, Chris Brown of the Bills Radio Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Carted off field Saturday
Gardner-Johnson was carted off the field to the locker room during Saturday's training camp practice due to a right lower-leg injury, Matt Parrino of The Syracuse Post-Standard reports.
ANALYSIS
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Links up with Buffalo
Gardner-Johnson and the Bills agreed to terms on a one-year contract Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Productive after slow start in 2025
Gardner-Johnson totaled 66 tackles (46 solo), including 3.0 sacks, two interceptions and four passes defended across 13 regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Struggled with assignments
Gardner-Johnson was released due to communication issues and his inability to guard the correct player, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
The Texans acquired Gardner-Johnson from the Eagles this offseason in exchange for offensive lineman Kenyon Green. That, combined with the fact that he played at least 94 percent of defensive snaps in all three games this season, made his release Tuesday particularly surprising. However, Gardner-Johnson was responsible for at least three big plays against the Houston secondary in as many contests, including touchdowns in each of the first two weeks of the campaign.
The Texans acquired Gardner-Johnson from the Eagles this offseason in exchange for offensive lineman Kenyon Green. That, combined with the fact that he played at least 94 percent of defensive snaps in all three games this season, made his release Tuesday particularly surprising. However, Gardner-Johnson was responsible for at least three big plays against the Houston secondary in as many contests, including touchdowns in each of the first two weeks of the campaign.