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The Buffalo Bills received encouraging news after one of their defensive leaders was forced to leave practice early on Saturday.
Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was carted to the locker room after suffering a lower-body injury during training camp in Pittsford, New York, raising immediate concern among teammates and coaches. Fortunately for Buffalo, early tests revealed the injury is a lower calf strain rather than something more severe, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Gardner-Johnson was injured during an 11-on-11 team period. Athletic trainers quickly rushed to his aid, examining his lower right leg and foot before helping him off the field. Although he was unable to put much weight on the injured leg initially, teammates were relieved to see him eventually able to walk with assistance.
The scene prompted several Bills players to check on the veteran defensive back, including Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins, who offered reassuring words following practice.
“I walked up to him, and I told him, ‘You all right? Take care of yourself. Can you walk?’” Dawkins said. “And he got up, and he did his thing. He could put weight on his legs, so he can walk.”
Dawkins acknowledged that injuries are an unavoidable part of life in the NFL but emphasized that the initial reports surrounding Gardner-Johnson were positive.
Bills get encouraging news
“So we all know that injury is 100% in this league, but he’s all right. And I got the message from coaches that he’s all right and they’re going to do their protocol. He’ll get whatever he has to get, and he’ll be right back in the loop.”
The veteran offensive lineman admitted the moment was frightening for everyone watching from the sideline.
“But C.J. is OK, but it’s a scary thing,” Dawkins added. “But C.J. is a dog, as we all know. So if anybody’s going to push through something the right way, it’d be C.J.”
The Bills acquired Gardner-Johnson to add toughness, leadership and playmaking ability to their secondary. While the injury briefly sparked fears of a significant setback, the diagnosis of a lower calf strain gives Buffalo hope that one of its defensive tone-setters will return sooner rather than later as preparations for the 2026 season continue.
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