The Indianapolis Colts got a dose of both hope and heartbreak on Friday as they prepare for a high-stakes showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars - a game that could very well determine whether their playoff dreams live or die.
Let’s start with the good news: Sauce Gardner is back.
After missing the last few weeks with a left calf injury, the All-Pro corner is expected to suit up on Sunday. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Gardner will return to the field in what could be a must-win game, depending on what happens between the Texans and Chargers on Saturday.
If Houston wins, the Colts are out. If not, Indy still has a shot - but only if they take care of business against the Jags.
Gardner hasn’t played since Week 13, when he exited just two snaps into the Colts’ game against Houston. At the time, Gardner described the pain as feeling like he’d “been shot in the calf,” which immediately sparked fears of a more serious Achilles injury. Thankfully for Indianapolis, further tests revealed it was only a calf strain - painful, yes, but not season-ending.
Now, with the season hanging in the balance, Gardner is ready to return. And make no mistake - his presence could be a game-changer.
“To get him back out there with his passion and what he brings to our football team on the backend will be huge,” Steichen said.
The Colts paid a premium to land Gardner in a blockbuster trade with the Jets last month, sending their 2026 and 2027 first-round picks along with wide receiver AD Mitchell to New York. But since arriving in Indy, Gardner has only played two full games - not exactly the immediate impact they’d hoped for.
Still, there’s no question about his talent. When healthy, he’s one of the best shutdown corners in the league.
And with the Jaguars boasting a dangerous passing attack, Gardner’s return couldn’t come at a better time.
He was listed as a non-participant on the team’s estimated injury report Wednesday and limited on Thursday, but Friday marked a turning point - Gardner was a full participant in practice, his first real action since the injury. According to league sources, he’s expected to play Sunday regardless of how the playoff picture shakes out.
But while Gardner’s return brings a much-needed boost, the Colts also suffered a major blow on the defensive front: DeForest Buckner is done for the season.
The veteran defensive tackle is heading to injured reserve with a neck injury that’s plagued him since Week 9. He’ll undergo a procedure next week after re-aggravating the issue during Monday’s game against San Francisco.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a Colts defense that’s leaned heavily on Buckner’s presence in the trenches. The two-time All-Pro initially hurt his neck in a loss to the Steelers and missed five games while dealing with what he later revealed was a herniated disc pressing on a nerve.
The injury caused him to lose strength on his left side, and in an effort to avoid surgery, Buckner traveled to Panama for stem cell injections. The hope was that the treatment would allow him to finish the season.
For a while, it looked like it might.
He returned to the field and even logged 44 snaps and five tackles against the 49ers. But after the game, the team learned he had re-injured the neck. Now, surgery is back on the table - and unavoidable.
“Obviously, an unfortunate situation,” Steichen said. “He embodies everything you want in a pro.
He’s as good as it gets, as tough as it gets. Wants to be out there for his team.”
At 31, Buckner knows what’s at stake - not just for the Colts, but for his own long-term health. He spoke openly last week about the risks of playing through the injury, calling it “very serious” and admitting the decision to keep playing weighed heavily on him.
“It’s definitely a heavy burden on myself making a decision,” Buckner said. “Obviously, I know what’s at stake (for the team), but also I know what’s at stake for me long term in my life.”
Despite the setback, Steichen said the team expects Buckner to return next season. He’s under contract through 2028 and carries a $26.6 million cap hit in 2026 - a big number, but one the Colts were willing to carry for a player of his caliber.
In addition to Gardner’s return and Buckner’s departure, the Colts are also getting starting left tackle Bernhard Raimann back after a one-game absence due to an elbow injury. That’s another key reinforcement for a team that’s had to juggle moving pieces on the offensive line all year.
But it’s not all positive on the injury front. Several key contributors have been ruled out for Sunday: center Tanor Bortolini (concussion), wide receiver and return specialist Anthony Gould (foot), tight end Drew Ogletree (neck), and defensive end JT Tuimoloau (oblique) will all miss the game.
So here’s where things stand: the Colts are battered, but not broken. Their playoff hopes are still flickering, and they’ve got one of the league’s best corners returning at just the right time. But losing Buckner - the heart of their defensive line - is a gut punch.
Sunday’s game against Jacksonville is shaping up to be a defining moment for this team. The stakes are high.
The margin for error is razor thin. And the Colts, as they’ve done all season, will have to find a way to fight through adversity - one more time.