NFL suspends Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson one game for spitting toward Raiders players

The NFL has suspended Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson for one game without pay for spitting toward Las Vegas Raiders players on Sunday.

The league said he broke the rule against "any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship."

Out against Baltimore

Buffalo has a bye this week. Barring an appeal Gardner-Johnson will miss the Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. He is eligible to return in Week 9.

An appeal would be heard by one of four officers picked jointly by the league and the players union: Derrick Brooks, Jordy Nelson, Ron Rivera or James Thrash.

What happened

Cameras caught Gardner-Johnson spitting toward tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum shortly before halftime. The umpire saw it and Gardner-Johnson was ejected. It was his first ejection since 2024 and his second 15-yard penalty in two weeks.

He apologized to teammates after Buffalo's 33-30 win. "He ain't do nothing to me," Gardner-Johnson said of Bowers. "That gesture isn't warranted." Later he posted an apology online. "There is a line that should never be crossed," he wrote.

Brady calls it inexcusable

Bills coach Joe Brady said the team will not add any punishment of its own. "He knows that that can't happen. It's inexcusable," Brady said. "That's not the standard that we're going to have and play with."

Brady said Gardner-Johnson will stay a starter when he returns. "We brought him here for a reason," he said. "He knows he has to play better."