Shannon Sharpe had no interest in softening the blow for Sauce Gardner after Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys.
The Colts cornerback was in position for the play that decided the game at Lucas Oil Stadium, then lost the one battle that mattered most. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott took a shot downfield to Ryan Flournoy, Gardner stayed stride for stride but never got his head around, and Flournoy hauled in a one-handed 46-yard catch. That set up Javonte Williams’ 1-yard touchdown with 1:08 left, and the Cowboys escaped with a 27-23 win.
Sharpe went straight at Gardner on X after the finish: “Colts kicking their own (expletive) trading 2 1st rounders 4 Ahmad Gardner. He’s gotta go by his govt name.”
It was a brutal ending to a game in which Indianapolis had been in control late. Spencer Shrader’s 50-yard field goal put the Colts ahead 23-20 with 1:37 remaining, but Dallas answered immediately. The Cowboys then outgained Indianapolis 508-271 and turned a tight finish into another painful loss for a 2-7 team.
Gardner’s final minute wiped out a mostly solid 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 changed the way the night ended.
“That’s unacceptable,” he said. “I gotta make the play, no matter what plays I made before that.”
Sharpe has been hammering away at the idea that Gardner is still playing like an elite corner, and this game gave him more ammo. The larger issue, in his view, is the trade that brought Gardner to Indianapolis in the first place.
The Colts acquired Gardner from New York on Nov. 4, 2025, sending Adonai Mitchell and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 back the other way. The 2026 pick became No. 16 and was used on tight end Kenyon Sadiq. Since the deal, per the Star-Telegram, Gardner has allowed 20 catches for 313 yards, including 13 catches for 262 yards this season.
The Indianapolis Star’s review of the loss was just as sharp, calling Gardner “responsible for the play that ended up costing the Colts the game” and saying he “hasn’t been worth the price.”
The timing could not be worse for Indianapolis. The Colts have dropped five straight, sit at 2-7, and have eight games left beginning Nov. 15, per WISH-TV.
Their most favorable remaining matchup comes Dec. 27 at home against Cincinnati. Jonathan Taylor was held to 13 carries for 46 yards on Sunday, and Indianapolis finished with 271 total yards.
In that kind of margin, one busted coverage can decide everything.
Dallas needed a frantic finish to put away a two-win team, and Brian Schottenheimer drew criticism for how close it came to slipping away. But the loudest takeaway belonged to Sharpe: Sauce is the nickname of a shutdown corner, and Sunday’s final snap made the Colts’ version look a lot more like Ahmad.
In Other News...
Indiana Just Landed A Guard Hoosier Fans Will Want To Watch
Indiana added another notable name to its future backcourt with the signing of four-star guard Chase Branham from the class of 2027, a move that gives Hoosier fans an early reason to keep an eye on La Lumiere School. At 6-foot-4, Branham brings size for the position, and his arrival only adds to the sense that Indiana is trying to build its next wave with players who can fit the programs long-term plans.
Branham also arrives with some historical context attached, since he is now the 10th-highest ranked recruit Indiana has landed in the 247Sports era. In the schools official release, coach Darian DeVries highlighted both Branhams ability and his character, which is usually the kind of combination a staff hopes will translate well once the real work begins and the recruiting buzz gives way to what he can actually do in Bloomington. [Read more 🡒]
Lincoln Riley Just Sent Indiana A Message Before Bloomington Showdown
Lincoln Riley had plenty of praise for Indiana as USC turns its attention toward a trip to Bloomington, and the message was clear enough: this is not a matchup the Trojans can treat casually. Asked about the Hoosiers, Riley pointed to an experienced defense and the kind of coaching continuity that can make a team harder to prepare for, while also showing respect for Curt Cignettis program.
For Indiana, the compliments matter because they come with a reminder of what usually decides games at this level: which team can bring the same standard from one week to the next. Riley said consistency is the challenge, and that is exactly the sort of test the Hoosiers want in a high-profile home game, where a strong defensive identity and steady coaching should give them a chance to make USC earn everything. [Read more 🡒]
Tobi Osunsanmi May Decide Whether Indiana Can Survive USCs Attack
USC brings one of the Big Tens most dangerous passing attacks into this matchup, and Indianas best answer may come from the front line. The Trojans have leaned on quarterback Jayden Maiava to drive the offense, while the Hoosiers have built their defensive identity around getting pressure and disrupting timing before a play can fully develop.
Tobi Osunsanmi is at the center of that challenge. Indiana has to find a way to make USC uncomfortable early and often, because if Maiava settles in, the Trojans can turn a game fast through the air. The Hoosiers have shown they can defend at a high level, but this one may hinge on whether Osunsanmi and the pass rush can force USC out of rhythm before the secondary has to hold up for long stretches. [Read more 🡒]