Overview

• Gardner-Johnson went down during a drill at the Greenbrier Resort after tackling wide receiver John Metchie III and was unable to put any weight on his right leg before being carted off the field.
• Medical staff have scheduled an MRI to assess the full extent of his knee damage, and early reports from NFL Network insiders indicate his ACL remains intact.
• Quarterback C.J. Stroud was among the first to kneel around Gardner-Johnson as teammates and coaches formed a silent circle while trainers attended to him.
• The veteran safety, acquired in March from Philadelphia and listed as Houston’s starter, now faces an uncertain timeline that prompts the team to consider backups such as M.J. Stewart and Russ Yeast.
• Head coach DeMeco Ryans described the moment as “heartbreaking,” and the Texans must recalibrate their defensive backfield depth ahead of their preseason opener.