Cornerback Sauce Gardner will now likely have his first winning season as a professional after being traded to the Indianapolis Colts, who have a 7-2 record, one of the best in the league.
Gardner has played in three losing seasons with the New York Jets and was on his way to a possible fourth, with NY having a 1-7 record after Week 8. The cornerback’s best seasons with the Jets were two back-to-back 7-10 seasons in his first two years in the NFL.
Now, Gardner finds himself on one of the better teams in the league and could make his first playoff appearance of his career.
Indy traded wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round picks to acquire the talented 25-year-old cornerback, showing that they have enough faith that he could be a key piece to the future of the franchise.
Head coach Shane Steichen spoke to the media and said he was excited to add Gardner to the football team.
Colts HC On Sauce Gardner
GettyThe Colts traded for Sauce Gardner on trade day, a few hours before the deadline
In what was a questionable cornerback room for the Indianapolis Colts, it has now become one of the better positions on the defense for the team.
The Colts signed Charvarius Ward to a $54 million deal to help boost a weak Indy secondary. Now, pairing him with Sauce Gardner gives Indianapolis a top cornerback duo in the league.
“His resume speaks for itself,” Steichen said of the newly acquired cornerback. “Pro Bowler, All-Pro. So to get a guy into the building like that, it just elevates everybody around us. My impression is, ‘wow, he’s an unbelievable player.’ To get a bona fide number one corner in this league, like I said, it elevates everybody around us.”
“He’s got all the elite traits you look for: sticky in coverage, the pass breakups, the interceptions, he’s fesity, he’s aggressive. Just to add that to the fold in the back end with the guys we already got back there, is going to elevate everybody.”
Steichen said defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was “fired up” and “excited” to add Gardner to his defense.
Possibly Making His Colts Debut
GettyNew York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner
The new Indianapolis Colts cornerback could make his debut in less than a week since arriving with the team.
Shane Steichen has mentioned that Sauce Gardner will be training with the team this week and could play against the Atlanta Falcons in Germany. The head coach also mentioned that Gardner has been in team meetings.
“He’s in the [concussion] protocol right now. So, hopefully, he’ll clear that soon is the hope,” Steichen said. “Then, we’ll see how he picks up the playbook and we’ll go from there.”
Steichen believes Gardner will pick up the defense quickly, labeling him as a smart football player in the short time since he has met the player.”
Right now, the cornerback has to get back to 100% before trying to step back onto the game-day field.
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