The ups and downs of the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary throughout the 2025 campaign have been well documented.
After looking like a complete and total liability on the outside during the early portion of the season, Adoree' Jackson has found his footing and at least looked serviceable during the second half. Unfortunately, as Jackson's performance finally turned the corner, injuries and poor coaching decisions have put other players, such as Cooper DeJean and Sydney Brown, in positions where they have struggled to achieve the level of success fans have grown accustomed to seeing.
After Week 13's loss 24-15 loss at Lincoln Financial Field to the Chicago Bears, one thing appears to be obvious. Howie Roseman made a crucial mistake parting ways with CJ Gardner-Johnson.
Gardner-Johnson Makes Presence Felt in Bears' Dominant Win vs. Eagles
On the day, Gardner-Johnson finished Chicago's victory with five tackles and one hit on the quarterback. He also came up with a clutch stop during the second half to prevent a first down and get the Eagles' offense off the field. The former Florida Gators standout was not just a difference-maker against his former team, though; he has been flying all over the field since joining Chicago, as the veteran has racked up 23 total tackles and a forced fumble in five appearances.
What makes matters worse for Roseman and Philadelphia's front office is that they only have a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to show for the Gardner-Johnson trade, as the Eagles released Kenyon Green on Sept. 6, after he was inactive for Philadelphia's Week 1 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
For a team that has seen its front office make a plethora of trades that have worked out even better than anyone could have hoped, this decision to, essentially, ship a player in Gardner-Johnson who is clearly capable of contributing to a contender for a late-round draft pick is a move Roseman and the rest of the brain trust in the football building have to regret.
If it wasn't evident to Roseman and the Eagles before their Week 13 loss, there is no doubting it now. They should be feeling the heat after the player the franchise painted to be a problem not only helped defeat Philadelphia in a game it could have desperately used a win in, but he has been doing so while resembling a pro's pro in the Windy City.
Gardner-Johnson just happened to give Roseman, Nick Sirianni, Vic Fangio, and the rest of the fan base a front row look at the production they could have had on their roster in Chicago's win on Friday.