C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s short run with the Buffalo Bills just hit the wall. The mercurial safety got the boot after serving a one-game suspension for spitting toward Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, effectively ending his one-year, $3.5 million deal signed back in March. Jordan Schultz dropped the news first, confirming what many probably saw coming.
Another Short Stint For the Mercurial Safety
This isn’t new territory for Gardner-Johnson, who’ll be 29 in December. Since the 2022 campaign kicked off, after his first three seasons with the Saints, he has jumped from the Eagles to the Lions, back to the Eagles, then Texans, Bears, and now the Bills. The guy just can’t seem to stick with a team for two seasons straight. His on-field antics are one thing, but his performance in Buffalo definitely raised eyebrows.
On-Field Struggles Paved the Way Out
Let’s talk numbers: in six games for the Bills, Gardner-Johnson racked up 26 tackles, two pass breakups, and one interception. Seems okay, right? Wrong. Entering Week 9, his 25.7% missed tackle rate was the highest in the entire NFL among qualifying safeties. That’s a massive problem, especially when the Bills have other guys stepping up. Damar Hamlin, playing alongside Cole Bishop, has been solid with 23 tackles, one pass breakup, and a much better 4.2% missed tackle rate. Then you’ve got veteran Geno Stone, who just made a big impact in his Week 8 audition against the Ravens, leading the team with six tackles on just 19 snaps. Plus, the Bills have two “large, explosive youngsters” in Jalon Kilgore and Jordan Hancock waiting for their shot, with Hancock expected off IR relatively soon.
So yeah, the Gardner-Johnson experiment in Buffalo totally fizzled out, much like his past team endeavors. With the trade deadline looming just one week away on November 10, and plenty of chatter about the Bills looking for a veteran safety to pair with Bishop, this move feels less like a surprise and more like an overdue clean-up. The Bills are making it clear they’re ready to move on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Buffalo Rumblings.
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