C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s “What The Hell” Plays Got Him Cut and $6 Million Is Gone

The Buffalo Bills just dropped veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, just days after he finished serving a one-game suspension, with reports indicating it was less about the spitting incident and more about his inconsistent play on the field. That’s a huge move, especially for a guy they signed to a one-year, $6 million deal back in March.

The Spitting Incident That Sparked a Suspension

Remember that Week 6 game against the Las Vegas Raiders? Gardner-Johnson got flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and straight-up ejected after NFL on CBS cameras caught him spitting towards Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum. Seriously, what was he thinking? That little stunt earned the 28-year-old a one-game suspension from the league. He sat out last Sunday’s win over Baltimore after the Bills’ Week 7 bye, serving his time, only to get the axe upon his return.

Inconsistent Play Was The Real Problem

While the spitting incident definitely didn’t help his case, ESPN is reporting that the real kicker behind the release was his seriously inconsistent play in the secondary. The organization apparently felt like there were just too many “what the hell is he doing” moments out there. Through six games this season, Gardner-Johnson allowed a 64.7% completion rate and an 83.5 passer rating against. Those numbers aren’t gonna cut it, especially when you’re on a team trying to compete. Last week, Damar Hamlin stepped up and started in Gardner-Johnson’s place. Hamlin put up five tackles and a pass defended in the win over Baltimore, and it looks like he’s now the favorite to lock down that spot moving forward. Gardner-Johnson’s had a pretty wild ride through the league since being drafted by the Saints in 2019, bouncing from Philly to Detroit, Houston, Baltimore, and Chicago before landing in Buffalo this offseason. Looks like Buffalo was just another stop on that long road.

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Originally reported by CBS Sports.