WATCH: Eagles' CJ Gardner-Johnson gives fans the finger after being ejected for second personal foul
Eagles safety CJ Gardner-Johnson made headlines Sunday at Northwest Stadium, but not for his impressive on-field performance against the Commanders. His fiery exit stole the spotlight after officials ejected him in the third quarter.
Gardner-Johnson's day started with promise. He snagged a critical interception off Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels near the end of the second quarter when Washington was on their 33-yard line. He added a tackle and a pass deflection to his stat line before things took a dramatic turn.
The trouble began when Gardner-Johnson and Commanders wide receiver Dyami Brown clashed after an 11-yard completion to Terry McLaurin. Brown shoved Gardner-Johnson's helmet off his head during the scuffle. Yet surprisingly, only Gardner-Johnson received a penalty.
The final straw came with 11:30 remaining in the third quarter. After Zack Baun forced a fumble on Brown's 1-yard reception and Nolan Smith recovered, officials announced Gardner-Johnson's disqualification. His second unsportsmanlike conduct penalty triggered an automatic ejection.
As Eagles chief of security Dom DiSandro escorted him toward the tunnel, CJ Gardner-Johnson's frustration erupted. He angrily threw his gloves aside and raised both middle fingers at the Commanders crowd.
CJ Gardner-Johnson joins Jalen Hurts on the sidelines
The incident highlighted the intense atmosphere of this crucial NFC matchup. The Eagles entered as the No. 2 seed while the Commanders held the No. 7 spot, making every play count toward playoff positioning.
Philadelphia's challenges began early when quarterback Jalen Hurts suffered a concussion in the first quarter. The QB, who hadn't missed a game all season, took hard hits from linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu during a 13-yard scramble. Kenny Pickett stepped in, quickly connecting with A.J. Brown for a touchdown.
The physicality didn't stop there. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. drew flags for unnecessary roughness. The Eagles also lost running back Will Shipley to concussion protocol, further depleting their lineup.
Gardner-Johnson's "double bird" gesture will likely prompt action from the league office.