Bills release safety Gardner-Johnson day after he completes 1-game NFL suspension for spitting

Buffalo Bills safety CJ Gardner-Johnson was recently released from the team following a one-game NFL suspension. The suspension came after an incident during a Week 6 matchup on October 18th, where Gardner-Johnson allegedly spat on Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. The Bills took their bye week in Week 7, and Gardner-Johnson served his suspension during their Week 8 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

Multiple sources reported that the Bills released Gardner-Johnson on Tuesday, with the decision not primarily based on his suspension but rather on his inconsistent play. NFL insider Cameron Wolfe of ESPN stated that Gardner-Johnson's release was due to his overall performance issues rather than the disciplinary incident.

Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year contract worth up to $6 million with the Bills during the offseason. Throughout his six appearances in a Buffalo uniform, he managed to record one interception, two passes defended, and 26 tackles. This move to release Gardner-Johnson contradicts previous comments from Bills head coach Joe Brady, who had indicated that the player would not be cut following the news of his suspension.

Brady had stated that Gardner-Johnson was a member of the Buffalo Bills and that the team brought him in for a reason. He emphasized that Gardner-Johnson needed to improve his performance for the team and learn from this incident.