C.J. Gardner-Johnson is in search of a brand new house.
Nonetheless, pursuant to NFL Guidelines, that new house is not going to be his previous one.
The defensive again was traded by the Philadelphia Eagles to the Houston Texans forward of the 2025 NFL season, in change for guard Kenyon Inexperienced in addition to a late-round 2026 decide swap. However after simply three video games in Houston, Gardner-Johnson has been launched.
Based on reporting from Texans beat author Aaron Wilson, the discharge got here after “friction” developed behind the scenes. As Wilson posted on social media, the defensive again was “complaining about his position” and “desirous to blitz extra.”
The discharge, coming because the Texans sit at 0-3 within the AFC South, has many speculating about the place his subsequent NFL vacation spot can be. However don’t anticipate that vacation spot to be his previous staff, the Eagles. As identified by SB Nation’s personal Brandon Lee. Gowton, pursuant to NFL Guidelines, a participant who was traded can not return to the staff that traded them except they’ve performed a minimal of 4 video games with the staff that acquired them by way of the underlying commerce:
Below this part of the principles, two seasons should cross till Philadelphia can carry Gardner-Johnson again into the fold.
Apparently sufficient, the final time this obscure portion of the NFL Rulebook got here into play additionally concerned the Eagles.
Forward of the 2024 NFL season, the Eagles traded cross rusher Haason Reddick to the New York Jets. However with Reddick searching for an improved contract from his new staff, a standoff with the Jets lasted into the beginning of the season.
