Bills release Gardner-Johnson after spitting suspension

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 21:46 · Archive

The Buffalo Bills released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson one day after his suspension for spitting at a Raiders opponent ended.

The Buffalo Bills released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, one day after he finished serving a one-game suspension for spitting at Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and centre Tyler Linderbaum. Gardner-Johnson was ejected from the game in the first half of the Bills' Week 6 victory over the Raiders. The Bills had their bye week in Week 7, and Gardner-Johnson served his suspension during their Week 8 win over Baltimore.

Head coach Joe Brady had previously told reporters that Gardner-Johnson would remain in the starting lineup upon his return. 'It's hard enough to win enough in this league with 48 guys, much less 47,' Brady said. 'He knows that that can't happen, it's inexcusable, that's not the standard that we're going to have and play with.' However, the team changed course and released Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday instead.

Gardner-Johnson, 28, signed a one-year deal worth $6 million with the Bills in the offseason after playing ten games for the Chicago Bears in 2025. In six games for Buffalo, all as a starter, he recorded 26 tackles and one interception. According to Pro Football Talk, the Bills decided to release him because they felt he had become too 'high maintenance'.

Gardner-Johnson has a history of disciplinary incidents. In 2024, he was ejected from a game against Washington after two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. In 2020, as a member of the Saints, he was accused of spitting on Chicago Bears receiver Javon Wims, who punched him twice during the altercation.

Gardner-Johnson apologised following the Bowers incident, writing that there was 'no excuse for my actions' and that spitting was 'inappropriate' and 'unnecessary'. He acknowledged the apology to Bowers, his teammates and both organisations.

This is now Gardner-Johnson's seventh team in eight years. He won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024, starting all four playoff games. He was released by the Houston Texans after just three games this season due to reported 'friction behind the scenes' and spent time with the Ravens before joining the Bears. The Bills signed defensive back Te'Cory Couch to the active roster to fill Gardner-Johnson's spot.

How it is being reported

• Spitting NFL star CJ Gardner-Johnson thrown into the abyss as Buffalo Bills cut him and he's forced to find seventh team in eight yearsThe player was slapped with a one-game suspension after he was caught spitting at Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers just before halftime of the Bills' Week 6 matchup.Daily Mail Sport · 4 Nov, 17:30
• Why Bills changed minds and dumped C.J. Gardner-Johnson after spitting incidentThe Bills are not the first team to come to such a verdict.New York Post · 4 Nov, 15:23
• Bills release Super Bowl champion safety after serving suspension for spitting incidentThe Buffalo Bills released CJ Gardner-Johnson after his spitting ejection, despite head coach Joe Brady initially saying he'd return to the starting lineup.Fox News · 4 Nov, 00:35
• Bills release C.J. Gardner-Johnson after Brock Bowers spitting incidentThe Buffalo Bills released C.J. Gardner-Johnson just one day after he served a one-game suspension for spitting on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.New York Post · 3 Nov, 23:24

In this story: C.J. Gardner-Johnson · Buffalo Bills · Brock Bowers · Joe Brady · Las Vegas Raiders · Philadelphia Eagles · Chicago Bears

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log