Steelers Now
Free-agent safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is signing with the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad, agent Kevin Conner told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.
Gardner-Johnson, who won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles last season, was traded along with a 2026 sixth-round draft pick to the Houston Texans in exchange for guard Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-round draft pick in March.
Gardner-Johnson started the first three games of the season for Houston, recording 15 combined tackles. On Sept. 23, the Texans released him due to behind-the-scenes friction. Gardner-Johnson requested a trade from the Texans, but Houston ultimately decided to just cut ties.
Schefter notes that Gardner-Johnson still gets his fully guaranteed 2025 salary with the Texans so there is little financial impact for the Ravens.
Free-agent safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is signing with Ravens practice squad, per his agent Kevin Conner of @unisportsmgmt.
Gardner-Johnson still gets his fully guaranteed 2025 salary with the Texans so there is little financial impact for the Ravens. pic.twitter.com/InJnQ6c2wi
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2025
The Ravens were tabbed as Super Bowl favorites prior to the start of the season, but a slew of injuries and horrendous defensive play as left Baltimore at 1-4 through five weeks. The Ravens have allowed 41, 17, 38, 37 and 44 points in five games.
“It’s just a complete disappointment,” Head coach John Harbaugh said after the Ravens’ 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday. “We’re going to have to find a way to turn it around, figure out who we are this next week, into the bye and out of the bye. We have more than half of the season left, we’re gonna have to find ourselves. That’s what our aim will be moving forward.”
Harbaugh said he doesn’t think it’s the answer to make a change with defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Baltimore has surrendered the most points in the NFL (35.4 points per game).
Harbaugh is leaning on senior defensive assistant/secondary Chuck Pagano to help turn things around. He also has been in communication with former Ravens defensive coordinator and senior advisor Dean Pees.
“Chuck’s got all that experience, he’s been there every day, he’s in the meetings, he’s a big part of how the defense is built already,” Harbaugh said. “He’s on the [head] phones. He’s making suggestions all the time, it’s a great conversation with the whole staff. Chuck is a great coach. He and Zach are talking all the time. That’s one of the reasons I’m so confident.”
Gardner-Johnson, who has 18 career interceptions, could provide a boost for an ailing Ravens’ defense. Gardner-Johnson recorded six interceptions in both 2024 and 2022.
All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton (hamstring) missed this past Sunday’s contest and is questionable for the Week 6 game against the Los Angeles Rams.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Super Bowl Champion Safety Signs with Ravens
