Sauce Gardner didn’t exactly leave much room for interpretation when he talked about the Colts.
The cornerback, who was traded to Indianapolis in the middle of last season, made it clear he sees a different kind of future in his new home. In comments to The Athletic’s James Boyd, Gardner said, “We're gonna win here.”
That’s a pretty loud contrast to what he left behind in New York. Gardner also brushed past the “New York scene” and shifted quickly to what he believes Indy has in place now.
“We gonna win here,” said Gardner. “That's the reality.
Period. I don't really think about the New York scene.
This place...we're gonna win here... Being able to go against coach Shane (Steichen) every day, that's really who I'm going against.
He a top-three play-caller. Obviously, I spent time with different play-callers with the Jets...but (Steichen is) top three (in the NFL) easily.”
That kind of language says plenty. Gardner isn’t just praising Steichen - he’s drawing a clear line between the Colts and the Jets, and it doesn’t flatter his former team.
It also fits with the way Indianapolis is being viewed in some corners heading into the season. Plenty of national pundits are down on the Colts, though it’s not hard to find reasons for optimism inside the building. Steichen and Gardner are two big ones, and the team could absolutely play its way into the playoff conversation.
New York, on the other hand, is getting hit with bleak forecasts. USA Today recently projected the Jets to go 3-14 in 2026, and that’s just one example of the low expectations surrounding them. The Jets do have several high-round draft picks in 2027, including the Colts’ first-round pick from the Gardner trade.
USA Today was also low on Indianapolis, pegging the Colts at 5-12. But that projection already looks shaky in one key area: it predicted Indy would trade Jonathan Taylor after a rough start. Instead, Taylor signed a two-year extension and isn’t going anywhere until at least 2029.
There’s at least a path for the Colts to look a lot more like the team that opened last season 7-1. Gardner, Charvarius Ward, and the rest of that secondary give Indianapolis real bite on defense, and Gardner clearly believes Steichen belongs among the league’s best play-callers. Add a hopefully healthy Daniel Jones, and the Colts have the ingredients to make noise.
The Jets, meanwhile, are staring at a much tougher road in the AFC East and, as Gardner’s comments suggested, a roster he doesn’t see in the same light.
For him, the difference is simple: the Colts are the team that’s “gonna win.”
In Other News...
Colts May Have One Last Chance To Salvage Anthony Richardson Value
Anthony Richardsons place in Indianapolis remains one of the more delicate storylines around the roster, especially with the quarterback room still sorting itself out. A recent trade proposal has put his name back into the conversation, suggesting the Colts could at least explore ways to preserve some value if he does not climb the depth chart the way they hope.
In that scenario, the idea would send Richardson to a contender looking for extra insurance at quarterback, with the thought that another team could view him as a developmental piece rather than a lost cause. For the Colts, it is the kind of move that would force an uncomfortable choice between patience and practicality, and it leaves open the bigger question of whether they are really prepared to move on this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Tyler Warren Just Changed The Feel Of Colts Camp
The Colts got a lively dose of good work during their joint practice with the Patriots, and tight end Tyler Warren was right in the middle of it. For a team still sorting through camp competition and building toward the regular season, a strong showing in a controlled setting can matter, especially when the offense is trying to establish rhythm and confidence against another defense.
There was also some reassuring news around the rest of the roster, with several players back on the field after injuries and general manager Chris Ballard clearing up the status of Alec Pierce. The attention now shifts to the preseason opener, where Indianapolis will get a first real look at its quarterback plan for game action, adding another layer to a camp that suddenly feels a little more settled, and a little more interesting, than it did a few days ago. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Have 3 Players Who Should Be Nowhere Near Preseason Action
With the Colts set for their first preseason game of 2026 against the Patriots, the bigger question is less about the score and more about who should not see the field at all. After dealing with injuries last season, Indianapolis has every reason to be cautious with players it cannot afford to lose, and that starts with quarterback Daniel Jones, defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and tight end Tyler Warren.
There is real value in letting the backup quarterbacks, Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson, handle the exhibition snaps while the established core watches from the sideline. Preseason has a way of tempting teams to chase rhythm and reps, but for a roster with important pieces to protect, the smarter move may be limiting exposure now so the meaningful games are not compromised later. [Read more 🡒]