Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson plays for “The Birds,” but the “double bird” he flashed following his ejection from Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders will likely have him hearing from the league office.
Gardner-Johnson received his second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty from the officials with 11:24 left in the third quarter. He picked up his first as the television broadcast went into a commercial break, despite Commanders wideout Dyami Brown shoving Gardner-Johnson’s helmet off.
That was one of several skirmishes between the teams in a game the Eagles played without quarterback Jalen Hurts, who left in the first quarter with a concussion. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. were flagged for unnecessary roughness penalties.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: #Eagles CJ Gardner-Johnson GAVE A DOUBLE MIDDLE FINGER TO COMMANDER FANS after he was ejected from the game.pic.twitter.com/cva2fze6oh
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) December 22, 2024
Gardner-Johnson intercepted Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels near the end of the first half on an overthrown pass in the middle of the field. He had one tackle before the Commanders and Eagles once again engaged in some post-play disagreements, and Gardner-Johnson drew another unsportsmanlike conduct flag for something he said.
As he walked toward the tunnel with Eagles chief of security Dom DiSandro, Gardner-Johnson threw his gloves in frustration and flipped both middle fingers in the direction of the cheering Washington crowd.
