The Buffalo Bills have released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson just a day after his one-game suspension ended, sparking mixed reactions across the NFL.
The safety was ejected during Buffalo's Week 6 win against the Las Vegas Raiders on October 18 after cameras caught him spitting in the direction of tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum. The NFL subsequently handed him a one-game, no-pay suspension, which he served during the Bills' Week 8 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens.
Although the suspension drew criticism, it was not Buffalo's only concern. Gardner-Johnson also struggled with consistency in the secondary, allowing a 64.7% completion rate and making several costly communication errors. He is currently 44th among safeties with a 74.4 PFN Safety Impact Grade.
The Bills' decision to release him drew a smorgasbord of reactions from NFL analysts.
Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho questioned the move, saying, "I don't know if I agree… I think you need an enforcer."
Meanwhile, analyst Chase Senior believes the Philadelphia Eagles should consider bringing Gardner-Johnson back. "It's time to bring him home, Eagles. Eagles defense has been soft; they play with no edge, physicality, attitude or swagger, and Andrew Mukuba needs veteran safety help next to him, because Philadelphia's safety play has sucked all year," he wrote.
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Bills reporter Matt Parrino offered a different explanation, saying, "This was a football decision, I've learned. Gardner-Johnson was inconsistent on the field, and he doesn't play special teams. Other players stepped up, and the Bills couldn't find a spot for CJGJ back on the roster," Parrino said.
Will Kunkel , host of the "Kickin' it with Kunkel" podcast, pointed to Gardner-Johnson's recent history of moving between teams. "Week 6: ejected for spitting toward Brock Bowers. Brady defends him. 15 days later: released. Texans → Ravens → Bills. Three buildings, same conclusion. (Texans HC) DeMeco (Ryans) didn't overreact. He was just first," Kunkel wrote.
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NFL reporter Dan Fetes also suggested that the release was not a surprise. "Look, this is the CJ Gardner-Johnson experience… The play wasn't good. The suspension didn't help. The defense played better WITHOUT him. It's not that shocking that the juice wasn't worth the squeeze," Fetes said.
Talking Buffalo host Patrick Moran was more direct, saying, "My immediate reaction on the CJ Gardner-Johnson release. 100% the right call by the Bills, but now you HAVE to go make a trade."
Analyst Thad Brown also highlighted Gardner-Johnson's difficult history with NFL teams. , "CJ Gardner-Johnson has now been released, not re-signed or traded from 8 different teams in the last 50 months," Brown said.
Gardner-Johnson entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints in 2019. He quickly made a name for himself as an aggressive and outspoken defender who could play both in the slot and at safety.
However, his career has taken several turns since he left New Orleans in 2022. He has played for multiple teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Chicago Bears, and Buffalo Bills.
Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year deal worth up to $6 million with Buffalo in March 2026. He finished his short stint with the team with 26 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception.
Meanwhile, Damar Hamlin stepped up alongside Geno Stone during the Bills' win over Baltimore. Their performances appear to have given Buffalo enough confidence to move forward without Gardner-Johnson.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
