India, Sept. 24 -- The Houston Texans are parting ways with veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, less than seven months after acquiring him in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. The news was confirmed by Ian Rappaport that Gardner-Johnson, 27, has been released.

Gardner-Johnson started the Texans' first three games this season, logging nearly every snap on defense and recording 15 tackles. But rumors suggest that friction developed behind the scenes.

NFL's Aaron Wilson noted that the safety "complained about his role, wanted to blitz more, and even communicated that he wanted to be traded." Those issues became too much for Houston's coaching staff.

"It didn't work out for him here," Wilson wrote.

The Texans had traded offensive lin...