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Chicago Bears wide receiver Javon Wims and New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) fight in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. Wims was called for unnecessary roughness and was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Bears wide receiver Javon Wims and New Orleans Saints cornerback Janoris Jenkins (20) fight in the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020. Wims was called for unnecessary roughness and was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Saints' C.J. Gardner-Johnson Denies Spitting on Bears' Javon Wims Before Fight

Rob GoldbergNov 2, 2020

New Orleans Saints safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson denied he spit on Javon Wims Sunday, causing the Chicago Bears receiver to retaliate with a punch.ย 

"It ain't got nothing to do with me. If he's acting out, that's on him," Gardner-Johnson said Monday, per Mike Triplett of ESPN. "It wasn't no incident. We won the game. I mean, everybody, it's a lot of he said-he said. Ain't nothing happened. Nobody got spit on."

Wims approached Gardner-Johnsonย after a third-quarter play in Sunday's game and punched him in the head.

The wideout was ejected but told team officials that Gardner-Johnson had spit on him and pulled out his mouthpiece earlier in the game, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

There was video of Garnder-Johnson pulling out Wims' mouthpiece on a previous possession, but the Saints player said Monday he wasย "innocent."

The Bears were penalized 15 yards on the play and the Saints followed it up with an interception on the next play. New Orleans eventually pulled out a 26-23 overtime win.

Saints head coach Sean Payton was proud of his players for quickly moving past the incident.

"We just had to be smart and not allow that to dictate or have a part in the conclusion of the game, in who wins or loses," Paytonย saidย after the game. "That just takes discipline. ... Fortunately it didnโ€™t impact any of our players."

Gardner-Johnson has earned the reputation of an agitator in his two-year career, even having anย altercationย with teammate Michael Thomas in a practice earlier this season.

However, he takes no blame in the latest incident with Wims.