The NFL has suspended C.J. Gardner-Johnson for one game without pay after the Bills safety spat at an opponent in Sunday's win over the Raiders. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the suspension, and Adam Schefter was cited as having it too, per r/nfl. NFL Trade Rumors, relaying Rapoport, said the act came in the second quarter and violated Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1. That rule covers unsportsmanlike conduct, and the league cited it as an act "contrary to" the rule.

CBS Sports and Sportsnet identified the target as Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. Per the r/nfl post, cameras captured the spit. CBS Sports also said Gardner-Johnson was ejected during the game and will forfeit money and playing time. The feeds we have don't give the amount of the forfeited pay. They also don't say whether he can appeal, and they carry no comment from him, the Bills or the Raiders.

The timing softens the penalty. Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons noted that the Bills have their bye in Week 7. The suspension therefore doesn't take effect until they return, and he misses only the Nov. 1 home date with Baltimore, not a game this week.

The ejection means Gardner-Johnson's day ended early. Our box score gives him one solo tackle in Buffalo's 33-30 win at Las Vegas. In the six games before that he had 25 tackles, so his season total is 26, with no sacks. Over those games he has one interception, a 41-yard return against the Chargers on Sept. 27, and two passes defensed that same day. His best tackle games were eight at Houston and seven at the Rams last Monday.

Buffalo is 5-1, first in the AFC East, and has won two straight. Both wins were close: 37-34 at the Rams and then 33-30 in Las Vegas. The Bills have allowed 30 or more points in each of their last three games, including the 29-26 loss to New England on Oct. 4. Losing a starting defender from that secondary adds to the pressure on the pass defense. Our records don't say who would take his snaps, and none of the reporting names a replacement.

The Raiders are 3-3 and have lost three straight. They host the Rams next Sunday, Oct. 25. Buffalo's next game is Nov. 1 against Baltimore, and Gardner-Johnson is expected to be eligible again after that.