Ravens cut Gardner-Johnson after brief practice-squad stint

The Baltimore Ravens released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on October 14, one week after signing him to the practice squad, his agent Kevin Conner said. Gardner-Johnson did not appear in any games for Baltimore during the brief stay, and Conner characterized the move as an amicable, mutual decision that followed a roster change that reduced the player’s path to playing time.

Conner said the decision came after the Ravens acquired another safety, Alohi Gilman, in a trade one week earlier for linebacker Odafe Oweh and a future draft pick, a transaction the team completed on October 7. With Gilman now on the roster, Conner said Gardner-Johnson and the team sought a clearer opportunity to play. The Ravens had signaled earlier in the week that they were preparing for roster adjustments ahead of their Week 7 bye.

Gardner-Johnson entered free agency after a season that already included a short stint with the Houston Texans. The Texans released him after three games; subsequent reports cited locker-room friction, missed assignments and a requested trade as factors in that move. Gardner-Johnson had signed with Baltimore two weeks after leaving Houston.

Across seven NFL seasons,...