The Buffalo Bills have released veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the team announced Tuesday. The move comes days after Gardner-Johnson served a one-game suspension for a spitting incident during a Week 6 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Incident and suspension
Television cameras caught Gardner-Johnson spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum. He was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected. The NFL subsequently handed down a one-game suspension, which he served during Buffalo's Week 8 victory over the Baltimore Ravens following a Week 7 bye.
Performance concerns
According to ESPN, the release was also driven by inconsistent play in the secondary. The organization reportedly felt there were too many "what the hell is he doing" plays. Through six games this season, Gardner-Johnson allowed a 64.7% completion rate and an 83.5 passer rating when targeted.
Next man up
Damar Hamlin started in place of Gardner-Johnson last week and recorded five tackles and a pass defended. He is considered the favorite to assume the starting safety role moving forward.
Career background
Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $6 million deal with Buffalo in March. A fourth-round pick of the New Orleans Saints in 2019, he spent three seasons there before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022. He has since played for the Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Chicago Bears before joining the Bills.
