Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson defended his former teammate Jalen Hurts on social media after a legendary opponent publicly downplayed the quarterback’s impact on their game plan.
Recently retired Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David suggested his team was more focused on stopping the run and limiting the Eagles’ offensive line than worrying about Hurts in the passing game. His comments prompted a quick response from the outspoken defensive back.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson Defends Jalen Hurts
Gardner-Johnson rarely holds back his opinions online or on the field. The veteran safety took to X to shut down the latest wave of negativity aimed at his former quarterback, with whom he won a Super Bowl.
“Why do this… like come on!” Gardner-Johnson posted on X. “People will continue to bash this man for what reason??? Plenty other QB news we can talk about
The defense came in direct response to David’s comments on the podcast “The Arena: Gridiron.” The longtime Buccaneers standout claimed Tampa Bay’s defensive game plan focused entirely on keeping Hurts in the pocket and forcing him to process the field.
“Jalen Hurts was never a guy we worried about,” David said. “Our game plan was always, because they have a great offensive line, you gotta stop the run. So, you gotta do what you are supposed to do to stop the run, and then that may open up the passing game, but he was never asked to do so much.”
The Eagles have struggled heavily against the Buccaneers in recent years, and Hurts holds a 2-4 losing record in head-to-head matchups against the NFC South franchise. Moreover, two of those losses have come in the playoffs. The defensive strategy David outlined played a massive role in Tampa Bay eliminating Philadelphia from the postseason twice during Hurts’ tenure.
Evaluating Hurts’ 2025 Campaign
The 2025 season brought intense scrutiny upon the Philadelphia offense and its franchise quarterback. Hurts commanded an inconsistent unit that routinely struggled against blitz-heavy schemes and disciplined zone coverages. The offensive attack often looked stagnant, relying heavily on isolation routes rather than creative motion or quick-game rhythm.
Despite structural offensive issues, Hurts still produced respectable baseline statistics, finishing the 2025 campaign with over 3,200 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns. The Eagles quarterback’s performance in 2025 ranked him 15th among quarterbacks in the league according to PFSN’s NFL QB Impact Metric, with an impact score of 78.3.
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His trademark mobility failed to generate the same explosive impact fans expect, however. He managed just over 400 rushing yards and 8 rushing touchdowns across 16 starts, marking a noticeable drop-off from his dynamic runs to the Super Bowl.
Those statistics tell only part of the story, as the narrative surrounding Hurts turned overwhelmingly negative following a series of anonymous reports questioning his leadership style.
Philadelphia must find a way to silence the critics by modernizing its offensive attack before the upcoming season. Gardner-Johnson clearly believes his former quarterback remains the right man for the job, but the pressure rests entirely on Hurts to prove his doubters wrong when the games finally count.
