Bills Release CJ Gardner-Johnson After Serving One-Game Suspension For Spitting

Andrew Powell Wed, November 4, 2026 at 2:16 AM UTC

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Bills Release CJ Gardner-Johnson After Serving One-Game Suspension For Spitting ©(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)

D'oh! *Homer Simpson voice*

The Buffalo Bills made the decision Tuesday to release safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, coming only six contests into his run with the franchise and a day out of his suspension after spitting in the direction of an opponent.

The 28-year-old Gardner-Johnson inked a deal with Buffalo in the offseason and began the organization's first six games prior to being ejected right before halftime in a contest against the Las Vegas Raiders. Then, he spit toward tight end Brock Bowers. Throughout his six-game tenure with the Bills, Gardner-Johnson recorded 26 tackles with one interception and two pass breakups. (RELATED: Brandon Aiyuk Hires Super-Agent Drew Rosenhaus, Eyes NFL Comeback)

Following a shift away from Gardner-Johnson, Buffalo's safety options include high-profile veteran Damar Hamlin, Geno Stone and rookie Jalon Kilgore. In the Bills' victory against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8, Hamlin and Stone were the team's active safeties with Gardner-Johnson still suspended.

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Within the building, the vibe is that the backup options for Gardner-Johnson competed well enough to make the justification to look longer at the position with or without him in the mix.

Nobody should be surprised by how this marriage ended.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson has always brought a chaotic brand of football that flirts with brilliance one minute and crosses the line into absolute liability the next.

But hey, at least Buffalo doesn't have to worry about panic-buying a replacement. Watching Damar Hamlin and Geno Stone step up proved that the Bills' secondary can function with cohesion, maturity and—most importantly—without self-inflicted drama.

As far as I see it, Gardner-Johnson is no loss for Buffalo.

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Source: “AOL Sports”