Bills DB Gardner-Johnson's suspension for spitting stands after appeal

Buffalo Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson's one-game suspension for spitting at Las Vegas Raiders players in Sunday's game has been upheld by appeals hearing officer Jordy Nelson, the league announced Thursday. Gardner-Johnson is one of two Bills players who were suspended for spitting during the game against the Raiders. Defensive back and special teams captain Sam Franklin Jr. also was suspended for one game. Franklin denied spitting in a post to his Instagram Story on Wednesday and also has appealed his suspension. Gardner-Johnson will miss the Bills' Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Buffalo is on a bye this week. Bills coach Joe Brady said Monday there'll be no further punishment for Gardner-Johnson from the team beyond the league's suspension. Brady remained committed to Gardner-Johnson as a starter when he's eligible to return from suspension in Week 9. Gardner-Johnson was ejected from Sunday's game after spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and center Tyler Linderbaum shortly before halftime. He apologized to his teammates after the Bills' 33-30 victory and said he needed to be a better veteran moving forward. ESPN's Nick Suss contributed to this report.