The Colts’ rough stretch got a little rougher Monday, and Sauce Gardner is now part of the problem.
Indianapolis is already dealing with a major shakeup after firing general manager Chris Ballard, and the fallout from Sunday’s loss to the Titans has only deepened. Gardner, the team’s top cornerback, came out of that game with a calf issue, and the early word is not encouraging for the Colts’ defense.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Gardner has a mild calf strain and will be week-to-week after the MRI. Rapoport also said Gardner is expected to miss some time. The injury is not considered season-ending, and it might not even lead to an injured reserve stint, but it leaves Indianapolis without a key piece at a bad moment.
“More Colts news: Pro Bowl CB Sauce Gardner, who was unable to finish Sunday's loss to the Titans, has a mild calf strain that makes him week-to-week, sources say after the MRI,” Rapoport reports.
That’s a tough blow for a defense that already has enough on its plate. The Colts fell to 2-4 after losing to a Titans team that entered the matchup at 0-5, and they’re now tied with the Houston Texans in the AFC South. With playoff ground to make up, there isn’t much margin for more setbacks.
The timing matters even more because Daniel Jones hasn’t played at the level he did last season, and the roster is suddenly looking unstable from top to bottom after Ballard’s firing. Now Gardner’s injury adds another hit to a team trying to steady itself.
Next up is Week 7 against the Minnesota Vikings, who will be without their top cornerback. That sets up a potential big day for Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison against a Colts secondary that is already looking vulnerable.
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