Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22) returns an interception for 41 yards during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Former Highmark Stadium.
Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
After serving a one-game suspension for spitting at Las Vegas Raiders players in Week 6, CJ Gardner-Johnson will not be preparing for a Week 9 showdown against the Minnesota Vikings, as the Buffalo Bills have officially released him from his contract.
Taking to social media to announce the move, ESPN's Cameron Wolfe revealed that CJGJ wasn't necessarily released for the spitting incident, but because Buffalo simply felt more comfortable with Damar Hamlin filling his former spot moving forward.
“Bills are releasing safety CJ Gardner-Johnson, per source. It was CJ’s inconsistency in play that led to the release, not as much the spitting incident that got him suspended,” Wolfe wrote.
“Damar Hamlin played well starting for C.J. Gardner-Johnson at safety Sunday vs. Ravens. Bills felt there were too many ‘what the h*ll is he doing’ plays than was worth it for Gardner-Johnson. Buffalo felt better trusting Damar over CJ going forward.”
One of the more enigmatic defensive backs in the NFL, with passion and personality for days, Gardner-Johnson signed with the Bills back in March after a half-decade bouncing around the NFL, going from the New Orleans Saints to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles, again, the Houston Texans, the Baltimore Ravens, and finally the Chicago Bears since 2021.
While CJGJ does have a Super Bowl ring for his troubles, and could land another gig before the season ends – maybe even back in Philadelphia as a sparkplug for defense with no real passion or fire to be found – it's worth wondering if he'll even secure the sort of long-term security he's been after since being released by the Eagles the first time in 2023, or if he will remain a short-term mercenary.