The Buffalo Bills got a jolt of bad news on Saturday when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down during practice with a lower-body injury and had to be carted off the field.
The injury happened about an hour into the session at St. John Fisher University, and it came during 11-on-11 work. Gardner-Johnson appeared to be hurt on a non-contact play while breaking up a pass, then reached for the back of his right lower leg before trainers helped him off.
ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg reported, “Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is being supported off the field.
Lower body injury, right foot area that athletic trainers were looking at. Teammates came over to wish him well.”
She later added, “Gardner-Johnson currently remains in the team’s medical tent. Injury occurred during 11-on-11 drills.
Was not putting much weight on his foot.” Getzenberg also reported that GM Brandon Beane went into the medical tent to check on him.
Gardner-Johnson eventually hobbled out of the tent and was then taken to the locker room on a cart.
The 28-year-old joined Buffalo in March on a one-year, $6 million deal after splitting last season between the Houston Texans and Chicago Bears. He finished 2025 with 66 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions, giving the Bills an experienced presence in the secondary.
His exit immediately pushed Geno Stone into first-team reps, a clear sign of how Buffalo would have to adjust if Gardner-Johnson misses time. The Bills remade their safety group this offseason after moving on from several veterans, and Gardner-Johnson was brought in as a key piece of that new-look defense.
That makes the timing especially awkward for a team that has put real work into retooling under coordinator Jim Leonhard. Buffalo will wait for more information after testing, but for now the uncertainty hangs over a secondary the Bills are counting on to play a big role this season.
In Other News...
Bills Secondary Suddenly Has A C.J. Gardner-Johnson Concern
The Bills secondary had already been a point of interest this offseason with C.J. Gardner-Johnson joining the team on a one-year deal, bringing the kind of versatility and edge Buffalo hoped would sharpen the back end of its defense. But his recent exit from a game quickly shifted the conversation from fit and role to simple availability, as trainers and teammates surrounded him after he went down.
Gardner-Johnson was unable to continue and was carted off after an apparent issue with his right foot, leaving Buffalo with an uneasy wait on a player it had just added to help stabilize the secondary. For a defense that is still sorting out new pieces, the sight of a veteran defensive back going down like that is the sort of development the Bills can ill afford this early. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Face A C.J. Gardner-Johnson Camp Concern
The Bills got a scare at training camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down during a practice drill and had to be helped off the field. It was the kind of moment that can stop a camp session in its tracks, especially when a veteran defensive back is involved, and Buffalo immediately shifted into the cautious mode teams usually reserve for injuries that could alter the shape of a roster conversation.
For now, the early signs are at least somewhat encouraging, with teammates and staff indicating Gardner-Johnson was able to walk afterward and is going through the usual medical steps. Still, the club is waiting for more clarity before saying much more, and the next update will matter for a defense that has been counting on him to settle in quickly during camp. [Read more 🡒]