Sauce

Gardner

Gardner was only able to start four games for the Colts after coming over at the trade deadline before a long-term calf injury derailed his season. He should be fine for training camp and, assuming Lou Anarumo retains his defensive coordinator job, we can look forward to a healthy Gardner shadowing in man in 2026.

It’s not all that surprising after Gardner barely practiced all week before being made active. The Colts have no incentive to push him. It wouldn’t be surprising if this were the last game he played in this year. Gardner had three tackles and a pass defensed before leaving in the second half.

He’ll give it a go despite Indianapolis being eliminated from playoff contention last night. Also playing off questionable tags are WR Ashton Dulin and OT Bernhard Raimann. Inactive for the Colts are C Tanor Bortolini (concussion), RB Tyler Goodson (ankle), S George Odum, DE JT Tuimoloau (oblique), G Dalton Tucker (shoulder) and S Reuben Lowery.

Gardner has not played since injuring his calf in Week 13’s loss to the Texans. He had not practiced at all until Friday’s session. This strikes us as a bit of a desperate play, which makes sense as the Colts are a loss away from elimination. If Gardner can play up to his talent for the whole game, he’ll likely lower Brian Thomas’ upside in Week 17.

Gardner’s absence is likely the most detrimental after the Colts shifted away from a Cover-3-heavy structure in favor of increased rates of man coverage after acquiring the standout cornerback at the trade deadline. Expect the team to turn back to a Cover-3 base in his stead in what amounts to a must-win game for the Colts.

Colts coach Shane Steichen answered in the affirmative when asked Saturday if Gardner would play again this season. That bodes well for the 25-year-old cornerback, who so far has avoided injured reserve despite a calf injury. Gardner will be out for Week 16’s matchup with the 49ers, but the Colts clearly believe he’ll return for at least one of the last two games of the regular season.

The Colts will be without their starting right tackle for Sunday’s road game against a stout Seahawks defense. Backup Jalen Travis is expected to draw the start in his place and will be tasked with keeping one of either Riley Leonard or Philip Rivers upright. In addition to Smith, the Colts also ruled out WR Anthony Gould (ankle) and CB Sauce Gardner (calf).

Gardner, Rapoport believes, could return to the Colts lineup within the next four weeks. That opens up the possibility that Gardner could be at full health — or something close to it — if the Colts right the ship and make it to the postseason. The Colts are expected to be careful with Gardner’s calf injury in hopes of not complicating the injury in a way that would jeopardize the corner’s entire season.

It’s the best Gardner and the Colts could have hoped for after the initial injury appeared to be much worse on the field. Gardner will miss a few weeks with what is officially being diagnosed as a strained calf, but according to Rapoport, the Colts hope to have him back before the end of the regular season. Barring an unexpected turn of events, Gardner should avoid a stint on injured reserve. Mekhi Blackmon is listed behind him on the depth chart and should step in to replace Gardner during his absence.

Gardner is undergoing additional tests to determine the exact severity of the injury, but as Fowler notes, Gardner seems to have avoided a major injury. We’ll likely get a clearer timeline on Gardner’s impending absence in the next 24 hours or so, but it sounds like he’ll be a lock to miss Week 14’s game against the Jaguars, and perhaps Week 15’s game against the Seahawks. In three games with the Colts this season, Gardner has totaled 13 tackles and two pass breakups while holding opposing receivers to 38 yards on 10 targets.