Buffalo Bills Release Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson

The Buffalo Bills released safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Nov. 3. Buffalo Bills PR announced the move in a brief post: “Released S C.J. Gardner-Johnson.”

The release followed a one-game suspension for spitting at Raiders tight end Brock Bowers during a Week 6 game. ESPN reports that the suspension kept Gardner-Johnson out of Buffalo’s win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. ESPN also reports that an anonymous source told NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe the Bills released him because of inconsistent play, not the spitting incident. That account is not a stated reason from the team.

Chris Trapasso of Buffalo Rumblings reports that Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal in March. In six games for Buffalo, he recorded 26 tackles, two pass breakups and one interception. Trapasso says Gardner-Johnson’s 25.7% missed-tackle rate was the NFL’s highest among qualifying safeties entering Week 9.