Bills defender CJ Gardner-Johnson ejected for alleged spit at Raiders tight end

In the third quarter of the Bills' narrow win over the Raiders, CJ Gardner-Johnson was penalized and removed from the field after officials believed he spat at opponent Brock Bowers. The NFL said it will examine the play to decide if additional sanctions are warranted. Gardner-Johnson later issued a public apology via Instagram, admitting the act was unnecessary and stressing his commitment to respect the game.

He highlighted his competitive nature and past incidents, such as a 2020 clash with Bears receiver Anthony Miller and special-teamer Javon Wims, which also led to ejections. Polls of league players have previously labeled him the most annoying and biggest trash-talker. Despite the controversy, Gardner-Johnson emphasized that a single moment does not define his career and vowed to learn from the episode.