C.J. Gardner-Johnson has no excuses for his expectoration.
The Buffalo Bills' safety posted an apology to his Instagram story after he was ejected for spitting, or expectorating, at Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the second quarter of the Week 6 matchup.
"I want to take a moment to address my actions and sincerely apologize to my opponent, my teammates, my organization, and everyone who supports me," Gardner-Johnson wrote. "My passion and competitive nature have always been a huge part of who I am, but I also understand that there is a line that should never be crossed. The gesture I made toward my opponent was inappropriate, unnecessary, and not a reflection of the respect I have for him or this game.
"There is no excuse for my actions,
and I take full accountability. No matter how emotional or intense the competition gets, I have to hold myself to a higher standard."
Gardner-Johnson went on to apologize to Bowers more directly and promise that he will be better moving forward.
"To my opponent, I sincerely apologize. We compete hard between those lines, but respect should always remain at the forefront.
"One moment does not define my character, but how I respond to that moment matters. I will learn from this, grow from it, and continue to lead with the integrity, passion, and respect that have carried me throughout my career. I love this game, I respect this game, and I will always protect the integrity of this game. My actions will speak louder than my words moving forward."
The Bills went on to win 33-30 while missing Gardner-Johnson for most of the contest.
Gardner-Johnson said he apologized to his teammates but did not acknowledge whether he spit at Bowers when speaking with reporters after the game.
"I let my emotions get above me and I hurt my team. ... I gotta do better and just control my emotions," he said.
Bills head coach Joe Brady said after the game that he wasn't sure what happened in the moment but emphasized the need for discipline with his team.
"The discipline of our football team has to improve, and that sure as hell can't happen," Brady said. "The team is bigger than that; the situation is bigger than that. Everything is bigger. It can't happen, and it definitely has to be addressed."
Controversy is not new for C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Gardner-Johnson has something of a history of getting into it with opponents.
As a member of the Saints in 2020, the defensive back was involved in two incidents of fighting in two separate matchups with the Chicago Bears. Both led to fines.
In 2024, officials ejected Gardner-Johnson, then with the Eagles, after he drew two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a game against the Washington Commanders. He flipped both middle fingers toward the crowd in Landover, Maryland, after his ejection.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bills player apologizes after ejection for spitting on Raiders star
