Tag: c.j. gardner-johnson

C.J. Gardner Johnson calls out Saints for taking a ‘cheap shot’ on DeVonta Smith

C.J. Gardner Johnson called the play that injured DeVonta Smith the “dirtiest (expletive) I ever saw in football,” but his teammates took a more measured stance:

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith left Sunday’s game early with a concussion after a hit from New Orleans Saints defensive tackle Khristian Boyd. Former Saints standout C.J. Gardner-Johnson, since traded to Philly, didn’t hold back after the game.

Gardner-Johnson called that play the “the dirtiest (expletive) I ever saw in football, bro. Y’all obviously saw forward progression was stopped. For them to take a cheap shot on one of our key players, it goes to show what type of team that is.”

Gardner-Johnson has his own history with the New Orleans Saints that likely plays a part into at least his assessment of the team as a whole.

Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata was more measured in his response, though like his teammate he called it a dirty play. Mailata was admittedly conflicted on whether Boyd was setting out to deliver a cheap shot: “Did I think it was dirty? Yeah. Did I think it was intentional? No — ah, I don’t (expletive) know. I’ve got to watch it.” Boyd, of course, maintained he was just playing football and not looking to injure Smith. Mailata acknowledged that the defensive tackle was trying to make a play.

The truth of it all is the play could have been avoided, but it was a bang-bang play. Boyd shouldn’t be considered dirty for this play. It looked like he was genuinely trying to deliver a big hit to close out the play. It wasn’t necessary, but it didn’t appear to be malicious either. You obviously wish Boyd would have pulled up, because it would have kept Smith from suffering this injury.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson on beating Saints: ‘No contenders, they’re pretenders’

C.J. Gardner-Johnson relished beating his old Saints team. He was heard in the postgame locker room shouting, ‘They ain’t no contenders, they’re pretenders’

The New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was a tough one to swallow, and even more so after the late-game extracurriculars occurring between the teams after Derek Carr threw an interception in the final minute. That gave C.J. Gardner-Johnson cause for celebration after he gave up a lead-changing touchdown minutes earlier.

To rub more salt in the wound, NFL Network reporter Bridget Condon tweeted after the final whistle that Gardner-Johnson, the former Saint, was heard shouting in the locker room: “They ain’t no contenders, they’re pretenders. They have Derek Carr, remember that.”

Carr certainly had a hand in the Saints loss, there’s no doubt about that, and he has most certainly not been perfect since signing with the Saints. After the first two weeks it felt like he turned things around, and the pressure coming at him due to the loss of Erik McCoy early into the game did not help, but Carr did not look great regardless. Having a former Saints draft pick in the opposing locker room celebrating that after a tough loss does not feel great for anyone involved, presumably.

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Chris Olave beat C.J. Gardner-Johnson for go-ahead TD

Chris Olave beat C.J. Gardner-Johnson for a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. But the Eagles got the last laugh:

The New Orleans Saints took the lead late in the fourth quarter on the back of a Chris Olave toe-tap touchdown grab, where he beat Philadelphia Eagles safety (and former Saints standout) C.J. Gardner-Johnson, gettting to the edge of the end zone. This put the Saints up 12-7 with a two-point conversion attempt coming up short.

Olave had a solid day to that point as well, with 6 receptions for 85 yards and the touchdown. The Saints’ receiving corps struggled for much of the game, primarily because the pass game was not effective due to offensive line troubles and spotty ball placement from Derek Carr. Unfortunately the Eagles re-took the lead and won the game after this, but Olave had an exceptional day regardless.

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Taysom Hill headlines Saints’ inactives list vs. Eagles

The Saints and Eagles shared their inactive lists for Sunday’s Week 3 matchup. Taysom Hill is out, but C.J. Gardner-Johnson will play for Philly:

The New Orleans Saints Week 3 matchup is here, and with that we have the full inactive players list heading into their game with the Philadelphia Eagles. As the Saints look to move on up to 3-0 for the first time since 2013, the Eagles look to bounce back off a close loss to the Atlanta Falcons this past Monday.

Taysom Hill came into this game as doubtful, and he will be out for this matchup. Four players came into this game questionable for the Saints, including Will Harris, A.T. Perry, Landon Young, and D’Marco Jackson. Harris and Young are both active, while Perry and Jackson will both be out.

Spencer Rattler will remain the third quarterback/emergency quarterback for the third straight week as well.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, despite being questionable, will play and is active for this matchup with his former team in the Saints.

Here are the inactive lists from each team for Week 3:

New Orleans Saints inactive players:

  • DT Khalen Saunders (calf)
  • TE Taysom Hill (chest)
  • WR Bub Means
  • WR A.T. Perry (illness)
  • LB D’Marco Jackson
  • QB Spencer Rattler (emergency third QB)

Philadelphia Eagles inactive players:

  • WR A.J. Brown (hamstring)
  • LB Devin White
  • CB Eli Ricks
  • DT Byron Young
  • OL Trevor Keegan
  • OL Darian Kinnard
  • QB Tanner McKee (emergency third QB)

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Eagles are optimistic C.J. Gardner-Johnson will play against Saints in Week 3

Philadelphia Eagles are optimistic C.J. Gardner-Johnson will play against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3

The Saints drafted C.J. Gardner-Johnson but have not faced his former team since he was traded before the 2022 season.

After a stop in Detroit, Gardner-Johnon is back in Philadelphia, but there were some concerns that he’d miss this matchup after suffering a foot injury in practice during the week.

Gardner-Johnson made the trip to New Orleans, and the Eagles didn’t make any practice squad moves at the safety position.   Before the team headed to the Caesars Superdome for warmups, Jeremy Fowler reported that Eagles brass are optimistic that the talented safety will play.

Gardner-Johnson was listed as questionable before the team left Philadelphia, but it looks like he’ll bring energy and swagger to an Eagles defense that badly needs a good performance.

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Tyrann Mathieu could enter Week 3 with an extra chip on his shoulder

C.J. Gardner-Johnson called out Tyrann Mathieu over Madden ratings this summer. Mathieu fired back, and that trash talk could work out as good motivation:

Tyrann Mathieu may play with an extra chip on his shoulder this week.

Players typically find their own source of additional motivation. Mathieu may look back to a social media moment with C.J. Gardner-Johnson this offseason as motivation for the game between the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles.

Gardner-Johnson took issue with Mathieu having a higher overall than him in Madden. In response, Gardner-Johnson called out Mathieu and his former team. He points towards how 2022 and 2023 transpired as proof that Mathieu isn’t a better player than him.

It’s flawed logic on a couple of fronts, but most notably, Mathieu didn’t replace Gardner Johnson. He may be a safety now, but he was a nickel corner with the Saints.

Mathieu didn’t care how flawed the logic was, he fired back in tweets that have now been deleted. It’s unclear if this was the straw that broke the camel’s back, but Mathieu responded like his name had been being played with.

More than just the initial response, Mathieu began to post lists where he was ranked highly. These moments always felt like subliminal shots towards Gardner-Johnson. The posts shared the same tone as Mathieu’s direct response.

The tone was Mathieu is a veteran who has played at a high level and continues to do so. It clearly lit a fire underneath Mathieu in August, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see that fire be reignited with Gardner-Johnson on the opposing side.

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C.J. Gardner-Johnson injury: Ex-Saints DB is questionable for Eagles

C.J. Gardner-Johnson has missed two games against the Saints with injuries. He was a midweek add to the Eagles injury report but his old team is ready if he plays:

C.J. Gardner-Johnson has already missed two rematch games against the New Orleans Saints with injuries on two different teams, so he’s probably looking forward to his third chance for some payback. But he was a surprise midweek addition to the Philadelphia Eagles injury report with a foot issue. That has made him questionable for Sunday’s game.

His old team is ready if he plays. Saints head coach Dennis Allen was asked Friday about planning for instigators who bait opponents into hotheaded penalties, and he had a great response.

“Is there a particular player you’re talking about?” Allen quipped.

Gardner-Johnson has developed a reputation as one of the NFL’s best trash talkers. When he was with the Saints, he was known for getting under opponents’ skin and drawing flags — and a punch or two. That’s continued after he left the team. Last Monday night he taunted another player into swinging on him and hurting their team.

So the Saints are going to be ready, if Gardner-Johnson does end up playing. They know him better than any other team around the league. It just comes down to health. The Saints traded him to the Eagles in 2022 but a lacerated kidney put Gardner-Johnson on injured reserve before they could play each other later that season. He signed with the Detroit Lions in 2023, another Saints opponent, but a torn pectoral muscle sidelined him again before kickoff.

Now he’s gone back to Philadelphia and is dealing with another untimely injury. We’ll have to wait to see whether he can gut it out. When approached by Eagles beat reporters in the locker room on Friday, Gardner-Johnson offered only a brief comment: “See ya Sunday.”

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Eagles rule A.J. Brown out for Week 3; C.J. Gardner-Johnson is questionable vs. Saints

C.J. Gardner-Johnson listed as questionable for Eagles game vs. Saints, while A.J. Brown was ruled out

The Eagles will be without All-Pro wide receiver A.J. Brown against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. The team ruled out Brown with a hamstring injury after he did not practice all week.

Star safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is listed as questionable after suffering a foot injury earlier this week, and he’ll be a game-time decision.

https://Twitter.com/Eagles/status/1837219007969042710

Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore expressed confidence in the team’s ability to generate explosive plays despite missing someone of Brown’s caliber.

“Yeah, no doubt. No doubt, obviously,” Moore said. “I think we still have guys who can separate and give us some vertical components to our offense, obviously something that we’ve just got to keep aware of, how can we continue to find those opportunities.

Rookie wide receiver Johnny Wilson, who did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday with a hamstring injury, returned to action on Friday and is good to go for the Saints game.

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Saints vs. Eagles is a revenge game for C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Zack Baun

Former New Orleans Saints defenders C.J. Gardner-Johnson return to the Caesars Superdome, but this time as members of the Philadelphia Eagles:

The New Orleans Saints versus Philadelphia Eagles is better known in certain circles as the C.J. Gardner Johnson and Zack Baun revenge game.

It’s unclear if Baun has any animosity towards the Saints, but Gardner-Johnson certainly held a grudge upon his departure. There was even a point where he called the Saints his favorite opp.

Ironically, the Saints have played Gardner-Johnson’s team in each of the past two seasons. The safety has been unable to dress out, however, due to injuries. He did miss Thursday’s practice with a foot issue so he may miss this revenge game for the third year in a row.

Gardner-Johnson rose to prominence as one of the best nickel corners and trash talkers in the league with New Orleans. Since departing he has transitioned into becoming a safety. He was punched in the face again during “Monday Night Football,” so it’s safe to say his position is the only thing that changed.

Baun looked like a star in the making in Week 1. In Brazil, Baun made 15 tackles and had two sacks. That sack total ties his season high with New Orleans from last year. Most surprisingly, he is doing this from inside linebacker. Baun has left the Saints for a more important role. He is a starting linebacker who is going to beat all of his season high marks possibly before Week 5.

The Saints offense will look to exploit both of their former players and come down with a third straight victory.

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Taysom Hill officially limited on Week 3 Saints injury report vs. Eagles

The New Orleans Saints have shared their Thursday injury report, adding Will Harris (calf) and A.T. Perry (illness) to the mix. Taysom Hill was officially limited at practice:

The New Orleans Saints have sent out their second injury report leading up to Week 3, which has some positives and some negatives worth noting on it. Multiple players were added to the injury report, with starting safety Will Harris (calf) and wide receiver A.T. Perry (illness) being grouped into the injured list of players.

Khalen Saunders (calf) and Landon Young (foot) both did not practice today as well, as they were not practicing Wednesday either. Cedrick Wilson Jr. (abdomen), Tyrann Mathieu (heel), Taliese Fuaga (back), and Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) all remained limited Thursday, which was mostly expected, as to prevent any aggravation of their current injuries.

For the good news, Jaylan Ford (hamstring) and Rashid Shaheed (hip) both practiced fully as they did Wednesday, which is a good sign for their health heading into Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Additionally for the linebacker department, D’Marco Jackson (calf) moved from did not practice to limited for Thursday, which is a good sign as he had missed a decent chunk of time with that injury. Finally, Taysom Hill (chest) also improved from did not practice to limited, which is exactly what you want to see, and what Dennis Allen had hoped for heading into Thursday.

Also worth noting on the other side, both A.J. Brown (hamstring) and Johnny Wilson (hamstring) did not practice for the second day in a row. Additionally, former Saints safety Chauncey “C.J.” Gardner-Johnson was added with a foot injury, and did not practice as well.

Here is the full injury report for Thursday’s practice:

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