What happened: The Buffalo Bills are releasing safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, according to Jordan Schultz. Gardner-Johnson started six games for Buffalo this season before sitting out Sunday's victory after the NFL upheld a one-game suspension for spitting during a game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Why it matters: Buffalo holds a 6-1 record atop the AFC standings following a 36-10 win over Baltimore on Sunday. Releasing a primary starter in the secondary alters Buffalo's defensive backfield heading into the Nov. 10 trade deadline. Damar Hamlin stepped into the starting lineup during Gardner-Johnson's absence as Buffalo looks to protect its three-game winning streak.

What to watch: Buffalo evaluates secondary depth before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, while Gardner-Johnson becomes available to other teams.