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NFL officially suspends C.J. Gardner-Johnson after incident during Raiders game

The Bills won't have the veteran for one game.
ByAustin Boyd
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Sep 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22) returns an interception for 41 yards during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Former Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
Sep 27, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22) returns an interception for 41 yards during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Former Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Buffalo Bills have to feel mostly good about their 33-30 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6. However, it wasn't a perfect game.

The defense continues to struggle and gave up 30 points. It didn't help that starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson got kicked out of the game halfway through after he spit in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.

He was called for a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and ejected from the game. It's never ideal to have a 28-year-old veteran ejected from a game for a careless decision. It's also going to be an issue that lingers beyond the Raiders game.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson gets suspended

The NFL has really cracked down on players trying to spit on other players. Just last year, Jalen Carter and Ja'Marr Chase were suspended for the same issue. Gardner-Johnson likely knew a punishment was coming his way.

Ian Rapoport reported that Gardner-Johnson is going to be suspended for one game.

Bills won't have C.J. Gardner-Johnson for Week 8 against Ravens

The Bills are heading into a bye week, so Gardner-Johnson won't be able to serve his suspension until the Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. That's going to be an important game, so not having their starting safety is going to be a problem for the Bills.

Gardner-Johnson was only signed on a one-year deal this offseason, so Buffalo isn't going to have a lot of patience with him. If he has another issue this season, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get cut loose. For his part, it sounds like he's taking accountability for his actions and doesn't plan to fight the suspension.

“You’ve got to take it on the chin like a grown man, and understand that you can’t be doing [stuff] like that in a game,” Gardner-Johnson told reporters after the game. “No matter how passionate I am, I just can’t be doing [stuff] like that in the game. I cost my team. A player to go down, which is me, as a vet. I’ll be better. I’ll take my consequence as it is. A fine, whatever it may be.”

Joe Brady did reassure that Gardner-Johnson is a member of the Bills still, but he made it clear that Gardner-Johnson has to play better, per Jay Skurski. So. it looks like he will still be part of the team, but who knows what will happen if another incident occurs.

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