NFL suspends Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson one game without pay for spitting toward Raiders opponent

As of 4:39 p.m. ET, Monday, Oct. 19, 2026

The NFL has suspended Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson for one game without pay for spitting toward an opponent during Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported in a post on X at 2:56 p.m. ET that the league had issued the suspension, and the NFL announced it in a statement posted by its communications account at 3:03 p.m. ET.

"During the second quarter, Gardner-Johnson spit at an opponent, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to 'any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,'" the league said in its statement.

The suspension begins on Monday, Oct. 26, and Gardner-Johnson will be eligible to return to the Bills' active roster on Monday, Nov. 2, following the team's Nov. 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens, the NFL said.

Gardner-Johnson was ejected late in the second quarter of Buffalo's 33-30 win after an exchange with a group of Raiders players, The Associated Press reported. The Bills, who improved to 5-1, have a bye this week, according to the AP.

Bills head coach Joe Brady called the incident "inexcusable," Spectrum News 1 Buffalo reported in a post on X.

At a news conference Monday that the Bills streamed on X, Brady said, "C.J. is a member of the Buffalo Bills," adding that "we brought him here for a reason" and that "he knows he has to be better for this team."

"I owe my teammates an apology and to be a man about it," Gardner-Johnson said after the game, the AP reported. "As a vet, I'll be better. I'll take my consequences as it is, handle it like a man and move on."

The Bills had not issued a statement on the suspension as of 4:39 p.m. ET.