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By Jordan Sigler
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The season opener for the Buffalo Bills will be personal for defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
The Bills will travel to play the Houston Texans on Sept. 13, the first time Gardner-Johnson will face his former team since the Texans released him after playing in just three games of the 2025 regular season. After a brief stint with the Baltimore Ravens, Gardner-Johnson finished the campaign with the Chicago Bears.
Houston released Gardner-Johnson on Sept. 23 following a reportedly heated confrontation with cornerback Kamari Lassiter and Derek Stingley Jr. after the Jacksonville Jaguars scored a touchdown. Their postgame interactions in the locker room became physical, but nothing led to a fight.
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On Thursday, Gardner-Johnson told reporters he couldn't wait to play the Texans. He suggested the story about his exit was full of "lies."
"It's a good team. Not saying nothing on the front office or the staff, but the players ... they are good," Gardner-Johnson said of the Texans, via ESPN. "All the [expletive] that came out, it was lies, but whatever. I just can't wait to see 'em."
Gardner-Johnson felt disrespected by the way the Texans handled his release. He thought Houston head coach DeMeco Ryans could have handled the drama better.
"They released me because I wasn't jelling with the team and I didn't fit well," Gardner-Johnson said. "Well, why the [expletive] 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?"
Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $6 million deal with the Bills in free agency. He's expected to be a starter in Week 1 when Buffalo plays the Texans, and there could be some jawing going on during the contest between the two parties.
Buffalo will be Gardner-Johnson's eighth stop since he was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 draft by the New Orleans Saints.
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