Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner has a mild calf strain that makes him week-to-week, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Gardner left Sunday’s 26-20 loss to the Tennessee Titans and did not return.
Gardner is expected to miss some time, but not an extended stretch.
The timing of the injury is unfortunate for the Colts. Indianapolis has lost two straight games with a 2-4 record and now must navigate a thin secondary without its key cornerback. With that 2-4 record, if the team decides to sell Gardner, his trade value will take a hit, depending on how long he is out.
Gardner, 25, has started all six games this season, totaling 17 tackles and four pass breakups. He has not intercepted a pass since 2024, and quarterbacks had a 107.9 passer rating when targeting him through Week 5.
He led the NFL with 20 pass breakups as a rookie with the New York Jets in 2022 and won AP Defensive Rookie of the Year.
A calf injury also derailed Gardner’s first season with Indianapolis. The Colts acquired the two-time first-team All-Pro from the Jets at the 2025 trade deadline for two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Gardner appeared in only 11 games that season, seven with the Jets and four with the Colts.
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It remains unclear whether he will be available for Indianapolis’ game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Oct. 25 at U.S. Bank Stadium, but the Colts are fortunate that he will not be missing a long amount of time.
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