The Houston Texans released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson due to several reasons, including his dissatisfaction with his role on the team, allowing costly big plays, and locker room issues. Gardner-Johnson wanted to blitz more frequently and was critical of his teammates and their contracts. He made a trade request and frequently compared his current situation to his previous experience with the Philadelphia Eagles' Super Bowl-winning team. On the field, he struggled to fit into the Texans' defensive scheme, often relying on his own instincts, leading to coverage breakdowns and big plays allowed. These issues culminated in communication problems and friction within the team, which ultimately led the Texans to cut ties with him after only three games into the season.