Overview
- Gardner-Johnson was ejected late in the first half of Sunday’s Week 6 game after broadcast and social video showed him spit in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum, forcing Buffalo to play the rest of the game without a starting safety.
- The league announced a one-game suspension under Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1 that will take effect after the Bills’ Week 7 bye and the player has the right to appeal the punishment.
- Officials enforced an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty at the time of the ejection that moved the Raiders closer to the goal line and helped kicker Matt Gay tie the game at halftime.
- Gardner-Johnson apologized publicly, said he 'let his emotions get above me,' met with teammates and coaches, and Bills coach Joe Brady said the team will address the lapse in discipline.
- The ruling follows recent NFL precedent treating spitting as a suspension-level offense, and coverage noted Gardner-Johnson’s past fines and a prior ejection while other players, including Kyle Juszczyk, referenced earlier alleged incidents.