Shannon Sharpe didn’t waste much time after the Colts’ latest collapse. After Indianapolis lost 27-23 to Dallas on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, Sharpe took aim at Sauce Gardner and the trade that brought him to the Colts.
“Colts kicking their own (expletive) trading 2 1st rounders 4 Ahmad Gardner. He’s gotta go by his govt name.”
That was the line after Gardner was beaten on the game’s defining snap. Indianapolis had gone up 23-20 on Spencer Shrader’s 50-yard field goal with 1:37 left, but Dallas answered immediately.
Dak Prescott launched a deep ball to Ryan Flournoy, Gardner stayed tight but never got his head around, and Flournoy hauled it in one-handed for 46 yards. A play later, Javonte Williams punched in a 1-yard touchdown with 1:08 remaining, and the Cowboys finished off the comeback.
Dallas also outgained Indianapolis 508-271, and the Colts’ offense couldn’t make up for the late defensive breakdown. Jonathan Taylor was limited to 13 carries for 46 yards, and the Colts finished with 271 total yards.
Gardner had been solid for most of the afternoon. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed two catches on four targets for 11 yards, added a breakup, and made a short tackle on CeeDee Lamb that helped force a punt. But none of that mattered once the final minute arrived.
“That’s unacceptable,” he said. “I gotta make the play, no matter what plays I made before that.”
Sharpe has been questioning Gardner’s elite status for weeks, and he kept that conversation going on X after the loss. His bigger issue was the price Indianapolis paid to get him.
The deal came on Nov. 4, 2025, when New York sent Gardner to Indianapolis for Adonai Mitchell and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. The 2026 pick became No. 16 and was used on tight end Kenyon Sadiq. According to the Star-Telegram, Gardner has allowed 20 catches for 313 yards since the trade, including 13 catches for 262 yards this season.
The Indianapolis Star’s review of the game was just as blunt, calling Gardner “responsible for the play that ended up costing the Colts the game” and saying he “hasn’t been worth the price.”
The loss dropped Indianapolis to 2-7, and the road ahead looks rough. The Colts have lost five straight and have eight games left, beginning Nov. 15, per WISH-TV. Their friendliest remaining matchup comes Dec. 27 at home against Cincinnati.
For a team in that spot, one coverage mistake can wreck everything. On Sunday, it did.
In Other News...
Cincinnatis Ground Game Could Decide Everything At Iowa State
A trip to Iowa State brings the kind of matchup Cincinnati has to survive with physical football and patience. The Bearcats have leaned on a strong running game led by Cole Tabb, while the passing attack has been less effective, especially away from home, which puts even more pressure on the ground game to set the tone and keep the offense on schedule.
For Iowa State, the path is pretty clear: slow the Bearcats on early downs and make them win through the air. In a conference game with bowl implications hanging over it, Cincinnatis ability to stay committed to the run could end up shaping everything about how competitive this one becomes. [Read more 🡒]