New Orleans Saints defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Monday denied a report that he spit on Chicago Bears receiver Javon Mims during Sunday’s game, prompting a sucker-punch and an on-field fracas.
During the third quarter of the Saints’ overtime win, Mims ran over to Gardner-Johnson – who wasn’t guarding him on the play – and sucker-punched him twice in the helmet and facemask. A fight broke out and the Bears receiver was ejected.
NFL Network reported Monday that Mims told Bears’ coaches that Gardner-Johnson spit on him in addition to ripping out his mouthpiece. Gardner-Johnson, who was slugged by teammate Michael Thomas in practice that led to Thomas missing the team’s Week 5 game, denied that report.
“It ain’t got nothing to do with me. If he’s acting out, that’s on him,” Gardner-Johnson told reporters. “It wasn’t no incident. … It’s a lot of he said, he said. Ain’t nothing happened. Nobody got spit on.”
Chicago Bears coach Matt Nagy was upset with Mims after Sunday’s game, saying “I am really, really bothered by that third-quarter incident.” Nagy followed up Monday by saying he had talked to Mims.
“Out of respect, I’m going to keep that between us and internally, but we did talk to him, and regardless of what went on, he was apologetic and knows that no matter what, you can’t do what he did,” Nagy said.
Mims is expected to be suspended by the NFL.
–Field Level Media