The Buffalo Bills avoided what appeared could have been a significant setback Saturday when tests revealed newly acquired safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffered a lower calf strain after leaving training camp practice at St. John Fisher University with a lower-body injury. Gardner-Johnson was injured during an 11-on-11 period and spent several minutes being evaluated by athletic trainers before being carted to the locker room. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, testing later confirmed the injury as a lower calf strain.
Gardner-Johnson initially struggled to put weight on his right leg before walking with assistance from trainers to the cart. Bills general manager Brandon Beane checked on the veteran safety in the medical tent before he departed the field. Signed in free agency this offseason, Gardner-Johnson is expected to start alongside third-year safety Cole Bishop and has quickly emerged as a vocal presence in Buffalo’s secondary. Veteran safeties Geno Stone and Damar Hamlin worked with the first-team defense following his exit.
“I walked up to him, and I told him, ‘You all right? Take care of yourself. Can you walk?'” left tackle Dion Dawkins said after practice. “And he got up, and he did his thing. He could put weight on his legs, so he can walk. 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.”
Hamlin also expressed optimism, saying, “I just said a quick prayer, and I think he’ll be all right. If we know the type of guy and type of player C.J. is, he’ll find a way. He’ll be OK, hopefully. God willing.”
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.