The Buffalo Bills faced an interesting decision at safety. C.J. Gardner-Johnson just completed his one-game suspension after spitting at Brock Bowers in Week 6. The NFL granted the Bills a one-day roster exemption for Gardner-Johnson on Monday, and it expires Tuesday, though the roster is currently full. Damar Hamlin took over as the starting safety and delivered promising results. Te’Cory Couch, who signed with the 53-man roster Saturday, saw extended playing time on Sunday, logging 71% of the defensive snaps.
The Buffalo Bills move on from head case
Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Oct 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22) celebrates after the game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
According to Jordan Schultz, the Bills have released C.J. Gardner-Johnson after six games with the team. As Sal Capaccio of WGR 550 notes, Gardner-Johnson’s release had more to do with his inconsistent play than the spitting incident from a few weeks ago. Since the transaction occurred before the NFL Trade Deadline, he will not be subject to the waiver wire and is free to join any team. Lastly, he will likely be joining his eighth team, having played for five teams since 2024.
Sources: The #Bills are releasing safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Gardner-Johnson, who has started 6 games for Buffalo, did not play on Sunday due to a 1-game suspension for a spitting incident in the Raiders game. https://t.co/X1a5G48J08
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) November 3, 2026
Many fans took to social media following C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s release, with many responding to his Week 4 jab at Efton Chism III and practice squad players. Gardner-Johnson incorrectly called Chism a “practice-squad player” and said we will never hear from him again after he made an insane one-handed grab.
“We’re not going to get into any bulletin board material,” Gardner-Johnson said, via ESPN. “An elevated guy made a hell of a catch — probably won’t hear from him again. … A practice squad player made a hell of a play. That’s all I’m going to tell you. You do it again, and he probably won’t make it again.”
Here’s what fans had to say
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Oct 12, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (22) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Efton Chism: rostered
@CGJXXIII: free agent
— Nick 🇺🇸 (@nickbrn_) November 3, 2026
@CGJXXIII Efton Chism has a job and you don’t. I just wanted to remind you.
— “Taco” Bill Leach (@BillLeach15) November 3, 2026
@MySportsUpdate @Schultz_Report That “CJ Gardner-Johnson has signed to _____ practice squad” tweet is going to be so funny 😭😭
— 17 (@thuryxds) November 3, 2026
Cj Gardner-Johnson got a #Deserved outcome #karma https://t.co/Mdi0YUSETM
— JUNKtalk (@JUNKsportsUS) November 3, 2026
Probably won’t hear from CJ Gardner Johnson again, respectfully.
— Corey (@coreyalex) November 3, 2026
@MySportsUpdate @Schultz_Report @CGJXXIII keep head up. Maybe you’ll land on a practice squad or something. Plenty of football left.
— Jacob Jon (@mr_jacobjon) November 3, 2026
@MySportsUpdate @Schultz_Report most toxic locker room player
— John Wayne (@Yuhcokelord75) November 3, 2026
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