Sauce Gardner isn’t trying to dodge the ugly film from Indianapolis’ win over the Washington Commanders in London. He owned it Wednesday, calling his effort “embarrassing” and making it clear he does not want that kind of performance attached to his name again.
“There was multiple plays where my effort was not there,” Gardner said, according to ESPN's Stephen Holder. “That's not what I stand for.
That's not the type of person I am. That's not the type of player I am.
And that'll never happen again.”
The play that drew the loudest reaction came on an 87-yard catch by Commanders receiver Antonio Williams. Gardner appeared to ease up while chasing the play, and fans made plenty of noise about it online. Gardner said he noticed referees throw a flag and believed the penalty was on Washington, but he still admitted the lapse bothered him.
“When I'm loafing, and then I'm seeing him slide past me, it's like, 'Bro, that's embarrassing.' Yeah, that's unacceptable,” Gardner said.
That wasn’t the only rough snap for him against Washington. Gardner also lost Treylon Burks in coverage on a 47-yard touchdown and later failed to make a play on a well-thrown ball to Dyami Brown that went for 48 yards.
The 25-year-old said he wants to move on quickly and tighten up the habits that led to the rough outing. The Colts brought Gardner in November 2025 in a trade with the New York Jets, sending two first-round picks to New York to upgrade their defensive backfield.
In Other News...
Giants Just Got A Tougher NFC East Problem To Prepare For
A rough afternoon in London left Washington with more than just a loss to the Colts. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 5, and the injury immediately changed the conversation around the Commanders offense after Marcus Mariota had already gone down and third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis was forced into action.
Dan Quinn said Daniels is on track to potentially return as soon as next week against the Giants, a development that would give Washington a much different look than it had overseas. For New York, it means preparing for a division opponent that may not be scrambling at quarterback for long, even if the recovery timeline still has to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Week 5 Injury Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The injury picture around Washington has shifted quickly enough to become a real Week 5 storyline, and it reaches across both sides of the ball. The Commanders are trying to manage hamstring strains for Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin, while Charles Omenihu is working through groin and ankle issues and Marcus Mariota is dealing with a sprained MCL. Jayden Daniels is still expected to start despite his own dislocated elbow, which gives the quarterback room at least some clarity even as the rest of the roster gets more complicated.
Nick Cross adds another layer after his illness and hospitalization, and the list of limited or sidelined players keeps the pressure on Washingtons depth. For a team already balancing injuries at receiver, along the defensive front and behind center, the concern is less about any one name than the cumulative effect on how the Commanders can actually function this week. The next update on availability may say plenty about how much margin this group still has left. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face A QB Decision They Can't Ignore
Washingtons quarterback room got another look this week after the team brought in Jack Plummer for a workout following Marcus Mariotas injury. For now, though, the Commanders are not planning to add him, a sign they believe Mariotas absence will be short enough to avoid an injured reserve move. With Jayden Daniels also expected back soon from an elbow injury, the position remains in a holding pattern while the staff waits to see how the health of the room settles.
Dan Quinn has stayed upbeat through a stretch that has featured multiple injuries around the roster, and this latest quarterback wrinkle fits the same uneasy theme. The Commanders do not appear ready to make a roster move at the position yet, but they are clearly keeping options open as they navigate a week-to-week situation that could shift quickly depending on Mariota and Daniels. [Read more 🡒]