The Colts may have dodged a major bullet with Sauce Gardner’s injury.
According to reports, the team is optimistic Gardner will only miss a few weeks after straining his calf during Sunday’s loss to the Texans. That’s a far better outcome than what many feared when he went down-initial concerns pointed to a possible Achilles tear or another serious lower leg injury. While additional testing is still underway to determine the full extent, early signs suggest the damage isn’t as severe as it could have been.
The big question now: will the Colts need to place Gardner on injured reserve? If they do, he’d be out for at least four games, which would essentially wipe out the rest of his regular season. But if the team’s initial outlook holds true, there’s hope he could return before the year is up-a huge boost for a defense that’s already leaned heavily on his presence since acquiring him.
Gardner’s journey to this point has been anything but ordinary. A standout at Cincinnati, he was a three-year starter and the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. His dominance in college made him a top prospect, and the Jets didn’t hesitate, taking him fourth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
After signing a rookie deal worth over $33 million-including a hefty $21.5 million signing bonus-Gardner quickly lived up to the hype. So much so, in fact, that New York locked him up this past July with a massive four-year, $120.4 million extension, making him one of the highest-paid defensive backs in league history. But in a surprising twist, the Jets traded him to the Colts just a few months later.
Since the move, Gardner has suited up for 10 games in 2025-seven with the Jets before the trade, and three with Indianapolis. Across those appearances, he’s posted 33 total tackles and eight pass deflections.
While he hasn’t notched an interception this season, his impact goes well beyond the stat sheet. Gardner’s ability to blanket top receivers and alter passing lanes has been a key factor in the Colts’ secondary holding its own in a tough AFC race.
Now, the Colts will wait and see what the tests reveal. But for now, there’s real hope that Gardner’s season isn’t over-and that he’ll be back on the field helping this team make a push when it matters most.