LAS VEGAS -- After he was ejected from the Buffalo Bills' 33-30 win over the Las Vegas Raiders for spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson apologized to his teammates postgame and said he needed to be a better veteran moving forward.
Referees disqualified Gardner-Johnson after he spit in the direction of Bowers and Raiders center Tyler Linderbaum just minutes before halftime. The incident came after a play where Gardner-Johnson and Bowers jawed back and forth, but Gardner-Johnson said there wasn't a specific incitement that sparked the flagrant act.
"We were just arguing and talking," Gardner-Johnson told reporters postgame. "It was nothing negative. He ain't do nothing to me. It was just in the heat of the game arguing and talking s---. That gesture isn't warranted."
"I don't even know," Bowers said after being asked why the incident occurred. "Just talking a little bit and then ... I don't know."
Gardner-Johnson said he expects a fine or other punishment from the league.
Referee Shawn Smith said via a pool report that umpire Tra Blake witnessed Gardner-Johnson spit toward Bowers, triggering his ejection. This was the second time in two weeks that Gardner-Johnson registered a 15-yard penalty and the first time he has been ejected from a game since 2024.
Bills coach Joe Brady requested Gardner-Johnson apologize for the incident. Asked about his teammate's ejection postgame, Bills quarterback Josh Allen said that he was still unclear about what happened but that the captains will review the footage together and decide whether it's necessary to address it as a team.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak told reporters postgame that his team went into Sunday suspecting that a squabble or incident like this one could occur, and he said his players were aware they'd be "standing by [Kubiak] on the sideline" if they engaged.
Without Gardner-Johnson, the Bills held on to win, but the Raiders threw for 313 yards and a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns against an already-struggling Buffalo secondary.
