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Sam Franklin Jr. became the second Buffalo Bills safety to receive a one-game suspension without pay from the NFL for spitting at a Las Vegas Raiders player on Sunday.
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Franklin, a special teams captain, received his punishment for unsportsmanlike conduct from the league on Wednesday morning, two days after teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson was banned one game for the same offense.
Gardner-Johnson was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected after spitting in the direction of Raiders tight end Brock Bowers in the Bills’ 33-30 road win.
Per the NFL release, Franklin spat at an opposing player after Las Vegas made an extra point with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter.
The spitting infractions violate Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
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WGR reported that Franklin plans to appeal and “vehemently denies” that he spat at a player.
The suspensions are set to begin Oct. 26, after the Bills’ Week 7 bye. Franklin and Gardner-Johnson will be eligible to return to the active roster on Nov. 2, following the team’s Nov. 1 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Franklin, 30, has recorded six tackles on special teams in six games this season. He has 124 tackles and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown in 97 career games (nine starts) with the Carolina Panthers (2020-24) and Bills.
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This story was originally published October 21, 2026 at 7:18 AM.