The Bears reportedly signed "safety" C.J. Gardner-Johnson to their active roster, bolstering their banged-up backfield. I put safety in quotes, because although he has primarily played there over the past few 2022, he's making the move to slot corner for the Bears.
Gardner-Johnson got his NFL start in New Orleans in 2019, working under then-Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who had him mainly playing in the middle of the defense rather than manning the back. According to Pro Football Focus, Gardner-Johnson played 1,452 snaps at slot for the Saints between 2019 and 2021, compared to just 80 snaps at free safety. From 2022 on, he's played 1,484 snaps at free safety, per PFF, and 384 snaps in the slot.
In 2022, the Saints traded Gardner-Johnson to the Eagles, beginning a short tour around the NFL. After one year in Philadelphia, Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Lions. In 2024, Gardner-Johnson returned to Philly —this time on a three-year deal —where he started on the Eagles' Super Bowl-winning defense.
Before his championship hangover could clear, however, Gardner-Johnson was on the move again. On March 12, the Eagles traded him to Houston, where he started the first three games of the season. But on September 23, the Texans suddenly cut him. Shortly after, reports emerged that Gardner-Johnson was unhappy with his role on the defense and wanted out. Early in October, he landed on the Ravens' practice squad. One week later, he was cut again.
Now he's here in Chicago.
What can Bears fans expect Gardner-Johnson to do in Dennis Allen's defense
Some of Gardner-Johnson's best seasons came in Allen's defense, where he was effective in pass coverage and the pass rush. In his three years with the Saints, Gardner-Johnson blitzed 83 times and got home for three sacks and 18 pressures. Since then, he's only been sent as an extra rusher 21 times, resulting in one sack and eight pressures.
The Bears could use help in the middle of their defense with Kyler Gordon on IR and special teams ace Josh Blackwell currently starting in his spot. They could certainly use help getting after the quarterback, too. The Bears have 14 sacks so far this year, which is the eighth-fewest in the league.
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Maybe a reunion with Allen will help Gardner-Johnson get back on track, too.