The NFL suspended Buffalo Bills safety Sam Franklin Jr. one game without pay Wednesday for spitting toward a Las Vegas Raiders player during the final minutes of Sunday’s contest.
The league said the incident occurred with 1:32 left in the fourth quarter, right after the Raiders kicked an extra point. Franklin, a special teams captain, confronted Raiders offensive tackle D.J. Glaze and spit in the direction of opponents, according to the NFL.
“With 1:32 remaining in the fourth quarter following Las Vegas’ successful extra point attempt, Franklin Jr. spit at an opponent, violating Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to ‘any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,’” the NFL said in a statement.
Franklin becomes the second Bills safety suspended for the same type of behavior in that Week 6 game. Starting safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson received a one-game suspension Monday after he was ejected for spitting toward Raiders tight end Brock Bowers earlier in the contest.
Gardner-Johnson accepted his punishment. Franklin has not. Multiple reports indicate the veteran plans to appeal and denies the allegation.
Franklin posted on Instagram with video of the play: “Not a dirty play what so ever! Will always defend myself though. Still won’t spit on anyone.”
The Bills are on a bye in Week 7, so Franklin’s suspension is scheduled to begin Oct. 26. He would miss Buffalo’s Week 8 home game against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 1 if the ban stands and could return to the active roster Nov. 2.
Franklin, 30, has played all six games this season exclusively on special teams. He has recorded six tackles and leads the Bills in special teams snaps with a high snap share in that role. He does not play on defense.
The Bills improved to 5-1 with their 33-30 road win over the Raiders, who fell to 3-3. Buffalo will now prepare for the Ravens without two defensive backs if both suspensions hold.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said after the game that his team expected potential issues and told players not to retaliate.
“That’s the expectation,” Kubiak said. “We knew going in there were certain guys that were going to try to do that to us, and the players knew before the game that if they got into it, they’d be standing by me on the sideline.”
The NFL has taken a hard line on spitting incidents. The league began cracking down last season and has continued that approach in 2026. Franklin was not penalized or ejected on the field Sunday; the suspension came after the league reviewed video.
Appeals for this type of suspension are heard by officers jointly selected by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Franklin’s case is expected to move quickly given the upcoming bye.
The two suspensions leave the Bills thinner at safety and special teams for the Ravens game. Franklin’s role as a captain and special teams leader makes the discipline notable for a team that has relied on his contributions in that phase.
Buffalo has allowed 30 or more points in four of its six games this season. Losing two safeties for a week adds another layer as the team looks to tighten its defense after the bye.
The Raiders, meanwhile, will have their full roster available for their next game after avoiding any retaliatory penalties or suspensions.
