C.J. Gardner-Johnson: Everything you need to know

Gardner-Johnson and the Bills agreed to terms on a one-year contract Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Gardner-Johnson opened the 2025 season with the Texans after being traded by the Eagles in March of last year. He appeared in only three games for Houston before being released in late September, which led to the 2019 fourth-rounder signing with the Bears in late October. Gardner-Johnson played a key role in the Bears' secondary and finished the regular season with 51 tackles (35 solo), including 3.0 sacks, four pass defenses (two interceptions) and one forced fumble across 10 games with Chicago. He'll now head to Buffalo, where he's projected to start at safety alongside 2024 second-rounder Cole Bishop.

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. Gardner-Johnson started the season with the Texans but was released after struggling across the first three games. The 28-year-old ended up signing with Chicago in late October, where he was much more productive, racking up a career-high 3.0 sacks across just 10 outings. Gardner-Johnson is set to become a free agent this offseason and could join his fifth team in the past four seasons.

Gardner-Johnson (concussion) has no injury designation ahead of Sunday's divisional-round matchup against the Rams. The 28-year-old from Florida missed Chicago's wild-card win over the Packers due to a concussion sustained the week prior, but it now appears he's cleared the NFL's five-step protocol and will return Sunday. Gardner-Johnson has been a great addition to the Bears' secondary, recording 51 total tackles, including 3.0 sacks, four passes defensed, including two interceptions, and one forced fumble over 10 appearances this season. He's expected to operate as Chicago's top slot corner Sunday.