News Article
Published
Oct 21, 2026 at 10:51 AM EDT
The Buffalo Bills are dealing with another disciplinary setback after the NFL handed down a one-game suspension to defensive back Sam Franklin Jr.
The decision follows an incident against the Las Vegas Raiders, but Franklin is challenging the league's allegation.
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Adam Schefter reported the suspension and later added that Franklin denies the allegation and plans to appeal.
Schefter's posts read:
“Bills DB Sam Franklin Jr. was suspended one game today for unsportsmanlike conduct that the league said was a spitting incident vs. the Las Vegas Raiders.”
He later added:
“Source: Bills DB Sam Franklin is denying the allegation and will appeal.”
The NFL said Franklin's alleged conduct violated its sportsmanship rules. The incident occurred with 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter of Buffalo's 33-30 win over Las Vegas on Sunday.
Franklin allegedly spat at a Raiders player after Las Vegas scored an extra point.
Franklin has strongly denied the allegation. According to NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk, WGR's Sal Capaccio reported that the defensive back “vehemently denies” spitting at a Raiders player and intends to appeal the suspension.
The suspension comes just days after fellow Bills defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson received a one-game ban for a separate spitting incident during the same game.
Gardner-Johnson was ejected after an incident involving Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, making Franklin the second Buffalo player to face discipline over similar allegations in a matter of days.
The appeal will now be key to determining whether Franklin misses the Ravens game. For the Bills, the situation adds an unwanted distraction during a strong start to the season.