The Colts are breathing a cautious sigh of relief when it comes to Sauce Gardner’s calf injury. According to reports, Indianapolis doesn’t plan to place the All-Pro cornerback on injured reserve, a move that would’ve kept him out for at least four of the team’s final five regular-season games. And with a playoff push still very much in play, that’s a significant development for a defense that’s leaned heavily on Gardner since his arrival.
Now, let’s be clear-Gardner isn’t suiting up this weekend. He’s still expected to miss time.
But avoiding IR leaves the door cracked open for a return before the end of the regular season. That’s a big win for the Colts, especially considering the initial fear was much worse.
Early evaluations raised concerns about a potential Achilles tear-one of the most dreaded injuries in football. Thankfully, that scenario was ruled out, and the current timeline has him missing just a few weeks.
Gardner’s journey to this point has been nothing short of remarkable. A standout at Cincinnati, he earned consensus All-American honors and was named AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2021.
That dominance led the Jets to select him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he didn’t disappoint. From day one, he played like a veteran, locking down top receivers and quickly establishing himself as one of the league’s elite corners.
He inked a four-year rookie deal worth over $33 million, which included a hefty signing bonus north of $21 million and a fifth-year team option. But Gardner didn’t even make it to that option.
In July, the Jets re-signed him to a massive four-year, $120.4 million extension-setting a new bar for cornerback contracts. Then came the twist: just a few months later, he was traded to the Colts in a move that shocked plenty around the league.
Since then, Gardner has suited up for 10 games this season-seven with the Jets before the trade, and three with the Colts. Across those appearances, he’s tallied 33 total tackles and eight pass deflections.
While he hasn’t picked off a pass yet this year, his impact goes beyond the box score. Gardner’s presence on the field changes how opposing quarterbacks approach the game.
He erases matchups, closes windows, and brings a swagger to the secondary that’s hard to quantify.
For the Colts, the hope is that he can return in time to help solidify a playoff berth. Even a couple of late-season games with Gardner back in the lineup could be the difference between playing in January or packing up early. His availability will be something to monitor closely over the next few weeks.
We’ll keep an eye on his recovery and update as more information becomes available. But for now, the Colts have avoided the worst-case scenario-and that’s a win in itself.