NFL Overturns Buffalo Bills’ Sam Franklin’s One-Game Spitting Suspension, Imposes Fine Instead

The Buffalo Bills received good news on October 23, 2026, as the NFL officially rescinded the one-game suspension handed to safety and special teams captain Sam Franklin Jr. for allegedly spitting at an opponent during their Week 6 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Following Franklin’s appeal, the league reduced his punishment to a financial fine, allowing him to remain active and available for team duties in Week 8.[1][6]

Details of the Original Suspension and Appeal Outcome

Initially, the NFL suspended Franklin for one game without pay due to an incident that reportedly took place late in the fourth quarter during an extra point attempt by the Raiders. According to league reports, Franklin allegedly spat in the direction of an opponent with 1 minute and 32 seconds remaining in the game.[1][6]

However, unlike his teammate C.J. Gardner-Johnson—who was ejected during the same game for spitting and subsequently suspended after his appeal was denied—Franklin denied the allegation. The lack of clear publicly available video evidence capturing Franklin spitting significantly influenced the appeal’s outcome.[1][5][6]

James Thrash, the hearing officer jointly appointed by the NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), ruled on Franklin’s case by reducing the suspension to a $14,926 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. This decision allows Franklin to return for the Bills’ Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens on November 1, following the team’s Week 7 bye.[1][4][6]

Context and Reactions Surrounding the Incident

Franklin, who signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract extension with the Bills in February 2026, has been a steadfast presence on special teams and serves as a team captain. He has appeared in all six games this season and contributed primarily on special teams with six tackles.[1][4][6]

After the suspension was announced, Franklin publicly contested the claim via social media by sharing a slow-motion video clip of the play, which showed a Raiders player making contact with him in the groin area during the exchange. Franklin maintained he would never spit at an opponent and emphasized self-defense as his motivation during the incident.[5][6]

His agents, Harold C. Lewis and Christian Addison, also fully denied the spitting allegations, characterizing the suspension as an “unsupported accusation,” and expressed gratitude for the appeal process and its outcome.[1][11]

Impact on the Buffalo Bills and Player Availability

With Franklin’s suspension overturned, the Bills’ secondary depth improves ahead of their upcoming games. However, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Franklin’s defensive back teammate ejected during the Week 6 game for spitting at Raiders tight end Brock Bowers, remains suspended for Week 8 after his appeal was denied. Gardner-Johnson apologized for his actions and took full responsibility for the incident, while head coach Joe Brady referred to it as “inexcusable” but opted not to impose further team discipline beyond the league’s ruling.[1][5][6]

Franklin’s availability for the Week 8 matchup against the Ravens at Highmark Stadium (scheduled for November 1 at 1 p.m. ET on CBS) is a positive development for Buffalo, particularly as they prepare to host a contentious opponent following their bye week.[6][7]

Summary

• Sam Franklin Jr. was initially suspended one game by the NFL for allegedly spitting during Week 6 against the Raiders.
• Franklin denied the allegations and promptly appealed the decision.
• Hearing officer James Thrash reduced the discipline to a $14,926 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, overturning the suspension.
• Franklin, a special teams captain, remains eligible to play in Week 8 after the Bills’ Week 7 bye.
• Gardner-Johnson’s separate suspension for spitting in the same game was upheld, and he remains out for Week 8.

This ruling allows the Bills to bolster their defensive backfield availability in a crucial part of the season while underlining the NFL’s investigative and disciplinary processes that differentiate between clear evidence and contested claims in conduct matters.