Buffalo Bills safety CJ Gardner-Johnson is undergoing emergency tests to determine the severity of a lower right leg injury he sustained during practice on Saturday.
The eight-year NFL pro, who won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2024 season, only joined the Bills on a one-year, $6 million deal in March, and has just begun his first training camp with his new teammates.
General manager Brandon Beane was unable to provide an update on Gardner-Johnson’s status immediately following practice by saying: ‘Until we get an MRI, we´ll see.’
On social media, speculation was rife about the specifics of the injury, with many fearing he had suffered an Achilles tear. Video of him walking shortly after alleviated some concerns, but it remains unclear exactly what happened.
About an hour into practice, Gardner-Johnson went down to both knees on the field in what appeared to be a non-contact injury and after defending against a pass play during team drills.
A trainer immediately focused on the back of the player’s right foot, examining the Achilles area.
CJ Gardner-Johnson is in his first training camp since signing with the Buffalo Bills
Upon being helped up, Gardner-Johnson was initially unable to place any weight on his right leg, before eventually taking steps on it while being escorted to the medical tent. Soon after, the player was carted off to the locker room.
Gardner-Johnson was regarded as a key offseason free-agent addition, and expected to compete for a starting job in a revamped defense under new coordinator Jim Leonhard.
Gardner-Johnson is noted for being a hard-hitting player, whose aggressive personality was considered a fit in Leonhard’s attacking-style vision.
The player has quickly been embraced by his teammates, and become a vocal leader in the secondary.
Gardner-Johnson won the Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2025
The safety (right) sacks Patrick Mahomes during the Super Bowl in New Orleans last year
Gardner-Johnson is with his seventh NFL team, having initially been selected by the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 Draft.
He spent three seasons there, before moving to Philly for his first spell with the Eagles. He then played three games for the Lions in 2023 before returning to the Eagles for the best season of his career so far.
In March 2025, he was traded to the Texans but was released just three games into the season, later signing on to the practice squad of the Ravens.
He later landed in Chicago, playing 10 games for the Bears last season, before his arrival in Buffalo for 2026. He turned 28 in December.
