C.J. Gardner-Johnson could face bigger problem after ejection

Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Bills' C.J. Gardner-Johnson could face an even bigger problem after ejection vs. Raiders

By Anne Erickson | Last updated Oct 19, 2026 9:16 AM ET

C.J. Gardner-Johnson won't be able to return to the Buffalo Bills vs. Las Vegas Raiders game after getting ejected toward the end of the first half.

Gardner-Johnson was ejected after appearing to spit on Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, per reports. CBS Sports shared the news on Facebook as soon as it happened, writing, "C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been ejected for unsportsmanlike conduct," with a screenshot of a referee on the field.

Buffalo Bills' C.J. Gardner-Johnson could face further punishment after his ejection for spitting at opponents

Now, it's worth noting that this may not be the only penalty for Gardner-Johnson. Every week during the season, the NFL hands out fines to players who broke the rules in previous games. One of the most common fines is for "unsportsmanlike conduct," so Gardner-Johnson could be slapped with a hefty fine to pay come next weekend.

CBS cameras show C.J. Gardner-Johnson spin in the direction of #Raiders TE Brock Bowers. https://t.co/dmGZndmt2b
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 18, 2026

Now, the Bills will have to head into the second half of the Raiders game without their star safety. As for the incident, according to a report from Charean Williams of NBC Sports, "Gardner-Johnson began jawing with Tyler Linderbaum and Brock Bowers before spitting in their direction. Officials ejected Gardner-Johnson with 14 seconds left in the half."

Williams adds that the NFL "could suspend Gardner-Johnson for next week's game, too." That would be yet another problem for him.

The incident certainly didn't help the Bills during the game. It actually contributed to Las Vegas getting more points on the board. His actions cost them a 14-yard penalty, which helped Raiders' Matt Gay tie the game at 13-13 with a 27-yard field goal going into halftime.

Anne Erickson

Anne Erickson is an award-winning news reporter covering the NFL, NBA, college sports and more for Yardbarker. Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and other sports, and her work has been published by Fox Sports, ESPN and Newsweek, among others. She has also interviewed a bevy of big names in sports and entertainment, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Lions edge Aidan Hutchinson and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott

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