The Buffalo Bills released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, just one day after he finished serving a one-game NFL suspension for spitting at an opponent. The eighth-year defensive back started all six games he played for Buffalo after signing a one-year deal in March, recording 26 total tackles and one interception before his tenure ended abruptly.
Suspension and on-Field Struggles Lead to Buffalo’s Decision
Gardner-Johnson was ejected before halftime during Buffalo’s Week 6 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on October 18 after spitting toward tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum. The league subsequently handed him a one-game suspension without pay, which he unsuccessfully appealed. The discipline forced him to miss the Bills’ Week 8 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
While the spitting incident drew widespread attention, league sources reported to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that Gardner-Johnson’s release stemmed primarily from inconsistent play rather than the suspension alone. Pro Football Focus ranked his performance 71st among qualifying safeties. He missed tackles at an 18.8% rate across his six starts in Buffalo.
Following the game in Las Vegas, Gardner-Johnson addressed reporters and accepted accountability for his actions. I got to be a better player.
Got to be a better vet,
he said, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. Let my emotions get above me, and I hurt my team.
They brought me here to play big games like this, so I got to do better.
#Bills are moving on from veteran safety C. J. Gardner-Johnson, per a league source
Hamlin Starts as Couch Joins Active Roster
That’s inexcusable.
During Gardner-Johnson’s absence against Baltimore, veteran backup Damar Hamlin started alongside Cole Bishop, helping limit the Ravens to 144 total yards. The Bills also utilized practice squad elevations including Geno Stone and Te’Cory Couch to reinforce the secondary. With Gardner-Johnson now off the 53-man roster, Couch will remain on the active squad.
A Career Marked by Frequent Moves
Buffalo marked the sixth franchise in eight seasons for Gardner-Johnson, who entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick out of Florida by the New Orleans Saints in 2019. He spent three seasons in New Orleans before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. He subsequently played for the Detroit Lions, returned to Philadelphia to win Super Bowl LIX in 2024, and joined the Houston Texans via trade in 2025. After short stints with the Baltimore Ravens practice squad and the Chicago Bears, he signed a one-year deal with Buffalo in March.
The Bills enter their upcoming matchup against the Minnesota Vikings with Damar Hamlin, Cole Bishop, Sam Franklin Jr., and rookie Jalon Kilgore anchoring the safety position.
Bills released S C. J. Gardner-Johnson.
More on Gardner
The Bills have released S C. J. Gardner-Johnson, according to a source.
Sources: The #Bills are releasing safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. Gardner-Johnson, who has started 6 games for Buffalo, did not play on Sunday due to a 1-game suspension for a spitting incident in the Raiders game. pic.twitter.com/X1a5G48J08
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