The Seattle Seahawks just got a piece of Colts news that cuts both ways in their push for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Multiple media members reported that cornerback Sauce Gardner suffered a calf strain in the Week 13 loss to the Houston Texans, but the injury is not considered season-ending and the team does not plan to put him on injured reserve. Instead, Gardner is officially week-to-week and expected to return at some point this season.
That decision keeps the door cracked for Gardner to be available when the Colts visit Lumen Field to face the Seahawks in Week 15 on December 14.
Gardner went down just two snaps into the Texans game, immediately sparking fear of a possible Achilles tear before testing and imaging confirmed a calf strain. Calf strains can be notoriously tricky, with recovery ranging from a little over a week to several weeks or longer depending on severity.
For Seattle, that means the matchup calculus against Indianapolis just became a lot more complicated. Instead of assuming Gardner is out for the cross-conference showdown, the Seahawks now have to prepare for two game plans: one where the Colts’ best defensive player is back on the field, and one where the secondary is still scrambling without him.
What Sauce Gardner’s Status Means for the Seahawks’ Offense
If Gardner can’t go, this is a clear opportunity for Sam Darnold and Seattle’s passing game.
Gardner is a two-time All-Pro cornerback who arrived in Indianapolis via a blockbuster trade from the New York Jets, instantly becoming the centerpiece of the Colts secondary. Without him, Indianapolis leans on Charvarius Ward, Jalon Jones and Mehki Blackmon on the outside, with Kenny Moore II in the slot, according to the team’s depth chart.
That’s a capable group, but it’s a different world than asking them to hold up snap after snap against Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has emerged as one of the league’s top wide receivers in 2025. A Gardner-less Colts defense likely means:
- More favorable one-on-ones for Smith-Njigba on the perimeter.
- Extra room for Seattle’s secondary targets to work if Indianapolis commits safety help to JSN.
- A higher ceiling for explosive plays, especially off play-action and shot concepts.
If Gardner does make it back in time, everything tightens.
Colts coach Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo would presumably put Gardner on Smith-Njigba as often as possible, trusting the All-Pro to at least make Seattle earn every target. That could force the Seahawks to:
- Funnel early targets to tight ends and running backs if Gardner erases JSN’s first read.
- Lean more on quick game and bunch formations to create traffic and rubs against press coverage.
- Use motion to keep Gardner from getting static pre-snap matchups on Smith-Njigba.
Seattle’s staff also has to consider the “rust factor.” Even if Gardner is cleared, a cornerback coming off a lower-leg soft-tissue injury may not be at full strength or full snap count. Testing his change of direction and stamina early could be part of the plan.
How Gardner’s Injury Affects the Seahawks’ NFC No. 1 Seed Hopes
The Seahawks head into December at 9-3 and firmly in the NFC race, with national power rankings consistently slotting them among the league’s top contenders. The Week 15 meeting with the 8-4 Colts isn’t just another AFC crossover game. It’s one of the swing points that could decide whether Seattle ends up with home-field advantage and the conference’s bye.
Here’s the basic math:
- Seahawks record: 9-3, in the mix with teams like the Rams and Bears for the NFC’s best mark.
- Colts record: 8-4 and fighting for their own AFC South title, so they’re unlikely to rest anyone who can go.
- Week 15: A home game at Lumen Field that Seattle can’t afford to drop if it wants the No. 1 seed tiebreakers to break its way.
A full-strength Gardner tilts the matchup, especially if the Colts’ pass rush can force longer-developing plays and let their star corner jump routes. A Gardner absence, or a limited version of him, would be one of the few clear personnel edges Seattle has against a top-tier Colts team.
Either way, the Seahawks’ path to the NFC’s top spot just got murkier. Instead of counting on a major injury break on the other sideline, Seattle now knows it might have to go through an All-Pro cornerback – and an 8-4 contender desperate for every win – to stay in control of the race for the conference’s No. 1 seed.
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