Gardner (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Texans, Amanda Foster of the Colts' official site reports.
The Cincinnati product aggravated his calf injury in the Week 17 loss to the Jaguars and didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so it's no surprise he'll be sidelined Sunday. Gardner appeared in 11 games with the Jets and Colts in 2025, recording 36 total tackles and nine passes defensed. Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards will likely operate as Indianapolis' top boundary corners while Gardner is out Week 18.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Deemed DNP to begin Week 18
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Gardner (calf) is estimated as a non-participant on Wednesday's practice report.
Gardner has been dealing with a calf issue for all of December. He was able to return from a three-game absence this past Sunday against Jacksonville, but the talented cornerback aggravated the injury. Given the lingering nature of the issue and the fact the Colts are out of playoff contention, it wouldn't be surprising if Gardner were to sit out Week 18 against Houston on Sunday, though he'll have two more days to return to the practice field this week.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Questionable to return Sunday
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Gardner (calf) is questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Jaguars.
Gardner may have aggravated his previous calf issue in the second half of the game, and his status for the rest of the contest is now up in the air. In his absence, Johnathan Edwards and Jaylon Jones will stand to see an increase in workload at cornerback.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Cleared for Week 17
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The Colts announced Saturday that Gardner (calf) has had his injury designation removed for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Gardner will retake the field versus Jacksonville on Sunday after having missed Indianapolis' prior three games due to a calf issue. His return will provide a notable boost for the Colts' secondary as the team looks to contain opposing QB Trevor Lawrence, who has thrown 12 touchdowns without a single INT across his last four appearances.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Questionable but expected to play
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Gardner (calf) is question to play ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports..
Gardner was able to upgrade to full participation in Friday's practice, and coach Shane Steichen said that he expects the cornerback to play Sunday, per Boyd. The 25-year-old has missed three consecutive games, with Jaylon Johnson being the primary outside cornerback opposite Mekhi Blackmon in his stead. Gardner's return will likely cause Johnson to see a diminished role in the Colts' defense.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Estimated as limited participant
Rotowire
Gardner (calf) is listed as a limited participant on Thursday's estimated practice report.
Gardner has missed three consecutive games due to a calf injury and couldn't practice Wednesday. Although Indianapolis didn't host an actual practice session Thursday, it appears that Gardner has now taking a tangible step forward in his recovery. If he's able to log at least another limited practice session Friday, it's possible the standout cornerback could return to the Colts' starting lineup in time for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Still working through calf injury
Rotowire
Gardner (calf) was listed as a DNP on Wednesday's estimated practice report.
Gardner has been sidelined for the Colts' last three games due to a calf injury that he sustained in Week 13 against the Texans. He hasn't been able to practice since sustaining the injury, so he's unlikely to play against the Jaguars on Sunday unless he's able to log a limited practice by Friday.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Won't return for Week 15
Rotowire
Gardner (calf) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Seahawks.
The fourth-year pro from Cincinnati didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday and is now in line to miss his second consecutive game due to a non-contact calf injury. While Gardner remains sidelined in Week 15, expect Mekhi Blackmon and Johnathan Edwards to operate as Indianapolis' top boundary cornerbacks.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Likely won't be placed on IR
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The Colts are not considering placing Gardner (calf) on injured reserve at the moment, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters Monday that Gardner's "Achilles is good," but the 25-year-old will still miss an undetermined amount of time due to a calf injury. Even so, Indianapolis is not expected to place the All-Pro corner on IR, which is an encouraging sign for his recovery timeline. Since being dealt to the Colts at the trade deadline, Gardner has appeared in three games and tallied 13 total tackles and two passes defensed. While he's sidelined, expect Mekhi Blackmon to start opposite Charvarius Ward in Indianapolis' secondary.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Set to miss time with calf strain
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Gardner is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his calf Monday and is expected to miss some time, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Though Gardner was feared to have suffered an Achilles tear after going down on a non-contact play early in Sunday's 20-16 loss to the Texans, preliminary tests have left him and the Colts confident that he avoided a worst-case scenario and instead sustained a calf strain. The MRI will confirm the extent of Gardner's injury, but at the very least, the star cornerback seems highly likely to miss the Colts' Week 14 game against the Jaguars, a contest that could have major implications for the AFC South title race. Through his first three games with Indianapolis since being acquired from the Jets at the trade deadline, Gardner has compiled 13 tackles (11 solo) and two passes defensed.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Achilles appears intact
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Gardner is believed to have suffered a calf strain during Sunday's contest against the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Gardner's Achilles appears to be intact, a fortunate report after the cornerback needed assistance returning to the locker room. Mekhi Blackmon will likely finish Sunday's game as the primary outside cornerback with Gardner being ruled out, but the starting corner may not be absent as long as initially feared.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Won't return Sunday
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Gardner (calf) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Texans, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
Gardner had to be helped to the locker room early in the first quarter after sustaining a calf injury, which is severe enough that he won't return. Mekhi Blackmon should see more work at outside corner the rest of the way.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Leaves Sunday's game early
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Gardner (calf) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Texans.
Gardner appeared to injure his calf on the Colts' second defensive play of the game, and the fourth-year cornerback was unable to walk off the field and into the locker room without assistance, per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com. With Johnathan Edwards (coach's decision) a healthy scratch, Mekhi Blackmon will move into the second outside corner spot opposite Charvarius Ward.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Seven solo stops
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Gardner recorded seven tackles (seven solo) with one pass defensed in Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
Gardner has had his two most productive games of the season since joining the Colts, logging a combined 13 tackles -- 11 of which have been solo. He also has one pass defensed in each of those matchups.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Productive in debut
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Gardner recorded six tackles (four solo) and a pass defended during Indianapolis' win over the Falcons on Sunday.
Gardner had a strong outing in his debut with the Colts, as he racked up a season-high six tackles. However, Drake London did get by him to score a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter. Gardner will look to build on this performance and continue producing following the team's upcoming bye week.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Clears concussion protocol
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The Colts announced Thursday that Gardner has cleared the concussion protocol, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan Indianapolis reports.
Gardner appears all set to make his team debut Sunday versus Atlanta, though it remains to be seen how much of a role he'll have while still in the process of picking up a new defensive scheme. The Colts acquired Gardner in a trade with the Jets on Tuesday, in exchange for a pair of future first-round draft picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Logs full practice Wednesday
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Gardner (concussion) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.
Prior to his trade to the Colts, Gardner was diagnosed with a concussion during the Jets' Week 7 loss to the Panthers, which caused him to be sidelined for Week 8. His ability to practice in full Wednesday is a sign that he is progressing through the league's five-step concussion protocol, but he'll need to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to make his Colts debut against the Falcons on Sunday.
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Colts' Sauce Gardner: Practicing Wednesday
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Head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that Gardner (concussion) will practice Wednesday, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
Before being traded from the Jets to the Colts on Tuesday, Gardner sustained a concussion in New York's Week 8 win over the Bengals. Steichen added that Gardner will make his Colts debut in the Week 10 matchup against the Falcons in Berlin only if he clears the NFL's five-step concussion protocol by game time.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Ruled out for Week 8
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Gardner (concussion) won't play Sunday against the Bengals, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.
Gardner will sit out after sustaining a concussion in the Jets' Week 7 loss to the Panthers. Jarvis Brownlee or Qwan'tez Stiggers figure to draw the start at outside cornerback opposite Brandon Stephens against Cincinnati's fearsome receiving corps. Gardner will have extra time to clear the league's five-step concussion protocol with the Jets on bye in Week 9.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Diagnosed with concussion
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Head coach Aaron Glenn said after Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Panthers that Gardner has entered the league's concussion protocol, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.
Gardner took a hit to the head during the second half of Sunday's game. Now that he's in the league's five-step concussion protocol, Gardner would have to be cleared by an independent neurologist in order to be available for the Jets' Week 8 road clash against the Bengals on Sunday, Oct. 26. Jarvis Brownlee would be the next man up at outside corner if Gardner misses time.
