The Buffalo Bills have released safety CJ Gardner-Johnson following his one-game suspension for spitting toward Las Vegas Raiders player Brock Bowers. The 28-year-old player saw his appeal against the disciplinary decision rejected and missed the week eight matchup where his team secured a 36-10 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
Performance Inconsistency Behind Release
As reported by NFL Network, the decision by the Bills stemmed primarily from inconsistent performances by Gardner-Johnson on the field rather than the spitting incident itself. During his time with the organization, Gardner-Johnson opened the first six matches of the season after signing with the franchise in the off-season.
Throughout those appearances, he accumulated 26 tackles, defended two passes, and intercepted one ball. Following his suspension, Damar Hamlin took over his starting position for the game against the Ravens and is expected to maintain his spot in the roster moving forward.
Career Background
Prior to joining Buffalo, Gardner-Johnson spent time with several other franchises after departing the New Orleans Saints following the conclusion of the 2021 campaign. His career path included stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Chicago Bears.
Originally selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft, Gardner-Johnson later contributed to the Philadelphia Eagles’ victory in the 2024 Super Bowl.
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