The Colts’ playoff hopes took a hit on Sunday - and so did one of their biggest defensive stars. Cornerback Sauce Gardner, acquired midseason in a bold trade-deadline move, went down with a calf injury during Indianapolis’ 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans.
While the initial concern was that it could be something more serious, the team got a bit of a break: it’s a calf strain, not a season-ending injury. Still, Gardner is expected to miss multiple games as he recovers.
According to reports, the Colts are taking a week-to-week approach with the All-Pro corner. The hope is he’ll return before the end of the regular season, but the team will have to navigate a crucial stretch without one of the league’s top cover men.
And that’s not the only injury shaking up Indy’s outlook. Quarterback Daniel Jones, who had been enjoying a late-career renaissance since arriving in Indianapolis, is currently gutting it out with a fractured fibula.
He’s still suiting up, but it’s clear the injury is limiting his ability to move in the pocket - and that’s had a ripple effect on the Colts’ offense. The timing couldn’t be worse, as Indianapolis has now lost two of its last three and slipped out of first place in the AFC South.
The impact of these injuries goes beyond the Colts’ own playoff push - it could also reshape the 2026 NFL Draft landscape.
Why? Because the New York Jets own the Colts’ 2026 first-round pick.
It was part of the deal that sent Gardner to Indianapolis, and now, with the Colts trending downward and their roster banged up, that pick is gaining value by the week. If Indy continues to slide, the Jets could end up with a much higher selection than originally expected.
As of now, the Colts are projected to pick 23rd overall, according to Tankathon. But with Gardner sidelined and Jones hobbled, there’s a real possibility that number creeps closer to the teens - or even higher - depending on how the final stretch of the season plays out.
The Jets, who are currently projected to pick seventh, would be looking at two top-25 selections if the draft were held today. That kind of draft capital can reshape a roster - or be a powerful trade chip come April.
So while the Colts are focused on keeping their season afloat, the ripple effects of Gardner’s injury - and the team’s overall health - are being felt all the way back in New York. For the Jets, each Colts loss could be a quiet win.