Not only did the Indianapolis Colts relinquish first place in the AFC South, but they also lost their prized trade-deadline acquisition.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Colts cornerback Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner is being deemed week to week with a calf strain, which he sustained in their 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The Colts (7-5) have dropped three of four and are now tied with the Texans for second place in the AFC South behind the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars (8-4). The Jags defeated the Tennessee Titans 25-3 on Sunday in Nashville for their third straight win and their fourth in their past five games.
Indianapolis will go to Jacksonville for a date with the Jaguars on Sunday.
Sauce Gardner Will Miss At Least One Game
Gardner left the showdown against Houston in the first quarter and did not return. The injury confined him to just two defensive snaps, and he did not record anything, statistically, in the game.
The Texans picked on his replacements, even though Houston QB C.J. Stroud did not throw a touchdown pass Sunday. He finished with 276 passing yards in his first game back from a concussion — his second-highest single-game total this season — and the Texans went 6 for 13 on third downs, in part due to Houston’s ability to make plays in the passing game.
So Gardner’s injury is alarming, especially since the Colts rank 21st in the NFL in yards-against per game (344.5) and 27th in passing defense (246.3 yards-against per game).
Rapoport reported the Colts “hope” Gardner would return before the end of the regular season, but there are only five games left. Plus, the next three games are on the road at Jacksonville and Seattle, then a home game against the San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis could be in big trouble if Gardner misses each game.
“Not long-term,” Rapoport shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. “But heâll miss some time.”
The Colts May Have Dodged A Bullet With Sauce Gardner’s Injury
Considering Indianapolis went all in to acquire Gardner as their No. 1 cornerback, and it still is considered likely to reach the postseason despite its recent freefall, the fact Gardner’s injury is not considered season ending is a huge sigh of relief.
The Colts, of course, traded two first-round picks to the New York Jets to acquire Gardner. The two-time All-Pro, who still doesn’t have an interception this season, has two passes defended and 13 tackles in his two-plus games but has helped Indy allow about 248 passing-yards-against per game.
The Kansas City Chiefs threw for 346 net passing yards in Week 12, though that was a consequence of the pass-heavy game script since the Colts were ahead most of the game.
Basketball fans, especially in Indiana, know playing on calf strains are nothing to mess with and can lead to bigger injuries — especially since three of Indy’s final five games are scheduled to be on turf.
Still, if the Colts can get to the postseason and get Gardner back healthy, it will be a huge lift for them especially playing against the AFC’s elite.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Colts Get Update on CB Sauce Gardner’s Injury After Texans Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.