The Buffalo Bills have decided on C.J. Gardner-Johnson after his controversial spitting incident, and the veteran safety will remain with the team. Head coach Joe Brady confirmed Monday that Buffalo has no plans to release Gardner-Johnson, despite the NFL handing him a one-game suspension for the incident during Sunday’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
MORE:3 NFL teams that should be worried after Week 6
Bills stand behind Gardner-Johnson despite suspension
Gardner-Johnson was ejected from Buffalo’s 33-30 victory over Las Vegas after appearing to spit toward Raiders tight end Brock Bowers late in the first half. The NFL subsequently suspended him one game for violating the league’s sportsmanship rule.
The decision immediately raised questions about whether the Bills could take additional disciplinary action, including potentially moving on from the veteran safety. Brady put those questions to rest.
“C.J.’s a member of the Buffalo Bills. We brought him here for a reason,” Brady said, while acknowledging that Gardner-Johnson needs to improve and learn from the situation.
Brady also made it clear that the team will not impose additional punishment beyond the NFL suspension. The Bills have addressed the incident internally, and the focus now appears to be on Gardner-Johnson learning from the mistake rather than Buffalo cutting ties with him.
That represents a significant vote of confidence from Buffalo. Gardner-Johnson is known for playing with an edge, and Brady’s comments indicate the Bills still believe that intensity is valuable to their defense despite the fact that it crossed the line in Las Vegas.
MORE:NFL contenders & pretenders after Week 6
Gardner-Johnson will have to earn back trust
While Gardner-Johnson isn’t being released, Brady’s comments weren’t exactly an unconditional endorsement. The coach repeatedly emphasized that the safety has to be better, both as a football player and as a teammate.
Gardner-Johnson has also taken responsibility for what happened. Following the game, he apologized to Bowers, his teammates, the organization and everyone who supports the Bills, acknowledging that his actions were inappropriate and that there was no excuse for them.
The timing of the suspension means Gardner-Johnson will miss Buffalo’s Week 8 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens following the team’s Week 7 bye. That creates an opportunity for other members of the secondary to step into a larger role.
For now, though, the message from Buffalo is clear: Gardner-Johnson is staying. The Bills brought him in because they believe his physicality, intensity, and personality can help their defense, and they aren’t willing to give up on that after one serious lapse in judgment.
Gardner-Johnson will have to prove that he can keep his emotions under control when he returns, but Buffalo has decided that his future remains with the team.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —