The most surprising twist in the NFL this week involves a veteran safety who was let go just days after a bizarre on-field outburst. Former Philadelphia Eagles standout C.J. Gardner-Johnson has been released by the Buffalo Bills, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz as reported by Heavy.com. Only two weeks after the 28-year-old safety faced ejection from a Las Vegas Raiders game for spitting at an opponent, this move occurred.
Gardner-Johnson served a one-game suspension for that incident, yet the Bills did not wait for his return to make a change. The veteran is now set to hit the open market, a path that has become more common for players in recent NFL seasons. His career has seen him jump between teams quickly, moving from the Saints to the Eagles, then to the Lions, back to Philadelphia, and finally to Houston before landing in Buffalo ahead of the 2026 season.
A Career of Quick Moves
When Gardner-Johnson entered the league in 2019, he was a fourth-round pick by the New Orleans Saints where he started as a cornerback. He spent three seasons there before a trade brought him to Philadelphia for the 2022 NFL season. During that year, he appeared in 12 games and tallied 67 tackles while deflating eight passes. His six interceptions that year led the entire league, marking a career high.
In 2023, he joined the Detroit Lions for a single season, then re-signed with the Eagles as a free agent. In 2024, he played all 16 games for Philadelphia, recording 59 tackles and 12 pass deflections. He matched his career high with six more interceptions and helped the Eagles win the Super Bowl that season with a strong defensive showing. Although he achieved success, the 2025 offseason saw him traded to the Houston Texans, where he appeared in just three games.
It remains unclear where Gardner-Johnson will land next. The Eagles are currently 2-6 and might not be the best fit for a player looking to climb the standings, even if they need safety help. His time with the Bills was short and ended in controversy, but his past stats show he can still be a top-tier defender when focused.
As per Heavy.com, the veteran is now available for any team willing to take a chance on his talent.
With the Eagles facing the New York Giants on Sunday, Nov. 8, at Lincoln Financial Field, the team must look inward for solutions rather than hoping for a quick fix from the free agent market.
