The disciplinary action stemmed from an incident reportedly occurring during a fourth-quarter extra point attempt. Franklin immediately contested the allegation, stating publicly that while he is committed to defending himself, he would never spit at an opponent. Unlike other recent disciplinary cases, Franklin was neither penalized nor ejected from the contest by officials, and public replays of the specific play did not provide clear evidence of the alleged conduct.
Context of the disciplinary ruling
The league's decision to overturn the suspension marks a significant development for the Bills' special teams unit. Franklin, who is currently in his seventh NFL season and his second with Buffalo, has been a consistent contributor on special teams throughout the 2026 campaign. He recorded three tackles during the win against the Raiders, matching his season-best performance and bringing his total to six tackles for the year.
This disciplinary review occurred alongside a separate incident involving Bills safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was disqualified during the same game after an official witnessed him spitting toward Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. Following an appeal, Gardner-Johnson's suspension was upheld by the league. He is scheduled to remain sidelined until the team's matchup against the Minnesota Vikings on November 9.
The Buffalo Bills are currently on a bye week and will return to the field on November 1 for a Week 8 game against the Baltimore Ravens. With the appeal process concluded, Franklin remains available for the team's upcoming schedule.
