Former Florida safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson was released by the Buffalo Bills following his one-game suspension stemming from a spitting incident against the Las Vegas Raiders, the team announced on Tuesday.
Gardner-Johnson was spotted by NFL on CBS cameras spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum. This led to him being flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and subsequently ejected from the game.
ESPN reported that Gardner-Johnson's inconsistent performance was also a factor in the Bills' decision. The report noted that the organization felt there were too many "what the hell is he doing" plays. The eight-year NFL veteran will be looking for his sixth team in two years, raising questions about his future
in professional football.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct pic.twitter.com/S2ME5wNiRT
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 18, 2026
The Bills had grown increasingly weary of Gardner-Johnson's decision-making prior to the initial suspension, according to ESPN. Through six starts this season, he had allowed a 64.7% completion rate and 83.5 passer rating against. Gardner-Johnson recorded 26 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception during his tenure.
The 2019 fourth-round pick signed a one-year deal worth $6 million back in March. A standout at Florida, he won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles following the 2024 season. The 28-year-old now enters free agency with considerable experience but questions surrounding his conduct and on-field production.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Former Florida standout C.J. Gardner-Johnson released by Buffalo Bills
