CJGJ Eyes Bills vs. Texans Week 1 Matchup After 'Bulls--t,' 'Lies' That Came Out from Houston Tenure

C.J. Gardner-Johnson's time with the Houston Texans came to a quick and unceremonious end last season, but the Buffalo Bills safety "can't wait" to play his former team in Week 1 of the 2026 campaign.

"It's a good team. Not saying nothing on the front office or the staff, but the players ... they are good," Gardner-Johnson said Thursday, per ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg. "All the bulls--t that came out, it was lies, but whatever. I just can't wait to see 'em."

The veteran played just three games with Houston last season and was released following an 0-3 start. The Texans ended up turning things around and reaching the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs after moving on from the defensive back.

Getzenberg reported "Gardner-Johnson had a mimicking response to cornerback Kamari Lassiter" when the latter was upset on the sidelines after Houston gave up a touchdown during a Week 3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Derek Stingley Jr. then got involved and ended up exchanging words with Gardner-Johnson. Things remained heated into the locker room even though there was never a physical fight, and Houston decided to release the safety after the game.

"They released me because I wasn't jelling with the team and I didn't fit well," Gardner-Johnson said Thursday. "Well, why the hell didn't the coach spoke up about it? ... After the loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, they decided I didn't fit well. We was already starting 0-3, so how can it possibly be on one person?"

He ended up briefly joining the Baltimore Ravens before finding a role with the Chicago Bears.

Gardner-Johnson played 10 regular-season games and one postseason contest for a Chicago team that reached the NFC Divisional Round of the playoffs and provided much-needed depth in a secondary that was dealing with injury concerns.

In fact, he posted 51 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, four passes defended, two interceptions and one forced fumble for the Bears. Buffalo must have seen enough and signed him to a deal in free agency this offseason.

While Gardner-Johnson missed two practices with Buffalo due to a right calf strain, he was back on the field Thursday and already looking ahead to the season opener.

In addition to something of an individual revenge game for the veteran safety, it will also be an important one for the Bills seeing how the Texans are a fellow AFC contender who could be battling for home-field advantage.

It is just one game, but tiebreaker situations could come into play as a result of these notable AFC showdowns.