An Eagles reunion is unlikely to happen, especially with defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson signing with the Ravens to their practice squad, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
With the Ravens dealing with injuries in the secondary, Gardner-Johnson provides a much-needed veteran presence for Baltimore, who currently have Chidobe Awuzie, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey.
How Gardner-Johnson got from Philly to Baltimore with a small twist
Gardner-Johnson had two stints in Philadelphia in 2022 and 2024. He was recently traded in March of 2025, with a 2026 sixth-round draft pick, to the Houston Texans in exchange for offensive lineman Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-round draft pick.
Neither team seemed to have "won" that trade, with Gardner-Johnson suffering a leg injury and then playing in the first three games for Houston (recording 15 tackles), ending up with his release last month. Green was released during the final cuts, bouncing on and off the Philadelphia practice squad. Ironically, both players are now on the Ravens' practice squad in Baltimore.
While there was speculation of a possible return to Philadelphia due to injuries to Adoree' Jackson and poor play in the secondary, it was actually against NFL league rules for him to rejoin the Eagles. Per NFL rules, Gardner-Johnson had not been on the Texans' active list for a minimum of four games. The NFL's "reacquisition of traded player" rule states a team cannot resign a player it traded until two seasons have passed or the player has been on the acquiring team's active roster for at least four regular-season or postseason games.
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While the rule may sound fickle, it does make sense to prevent NFL teams from colluding in front offices to negotiate/leverage payroll for certain players. Regardless, it appeared that the Eagles, according to sources and media, were not interested in bringing back Gardner-Johnson.