# Bills Cut CJ Gardner-Johnson After Communication Issues

> Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer says CJ Gardner-Johnson's communication style clashed with the team's defense.
- Title: Bills Cut CJ Gardner-Johnson After Communication Issues
- Summary: Former Bills safety Jordan Poyer says CJ Gardner-Johnson's communication style clashed with the team's defense.
- Keywords: buffalo bills, cj gardner-johnson, jordan poyer, defensive coordinator, trade deadline, bills secondary, nfl, Buffalo Bills On SI
- Source: Buffalo Bills On SI — https://si.com/nfl/bills/onsi/legends-former-all-pro-safety-saw-this-coming-as-bills-cut-bait-on-cj-gardner-johnson
- Published: 2026-11-07T02:10:58+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: buffalo bills, cj gardner-johnson, jordan poyer, defensive coordinator, trade deadline, bills secondary, nfl, sports
## Bills' Safety Duo
Under former head coach Sean McDermott, the Buffalo Bills had the same safety duo for the majority of seven straight seasons from 2017 to 2023.
## All-Pro Safety Pairs
Former All-Pro defensive backs Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer became the definition of professional safety play in the NFL.
## Leadership on Field
Both defenders were leaders for the franchise on and off the field for their entire time on the roster.
## New Defensive Pairing
The Bills shifted to a new defensive dynamic under first-year head coach Joe Brady and new defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard this offseason.
## CJ Gardner-Johnson Release
The Bills released veteran safety CJ Gardner-Johnson prior to Week 9, leaving Buffalo in an interesting situation moving forward.
## Communication Issues
Poyer says Gardner-Johnson's communication style clashed with the Bills' defense, making the pairing ineffective.
## Poyer's Insight
Poyer saw the communication issues during training camp when Gardner-Johnson was live streaming.
## Poyer's Quote
I saw this coming in training camp when [Gardner-Johnson] was live streaming during training camp.

> Look, man, I’m not gonna’ lie. I saw this coming in training camp when [Gardner-Johnson] was live streaming during training camp.
## Communication Barrier
Poyer says there was a boundary between what the Bills wanted and what Gardner-Johnson wanted on the field.
## Poyer's Conclusion
Poyer says Gardner-Johnson's style didn't fit the Bills' defense, so he's not surprised by the move.
## Bills' Defense Performance
Leonhard's defense showed signs of improvement against Baltimore, supporting the move.
## Trade Deadline Question
The Bills must decide whether to trade for a new safety or keep their current roster for the second half of the season.
## Trade Deadline
The trade deadline approaches on Tuesday, November 10, with the Bills' decision pending.
## Key takeaway

Bills released veteran safety CJ Gardner-Johnson after communication issues with new defensive pairing.