Doubtful
Injury Calf
Est. Return 12/7/2025
2025 Defense Stats
TCKL
33
SACKS
0.0
INT
0
FF
0
TD
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Gardner's 2024 totals in passes defensed (nine) and tackles (49) were both career lows, down from his averages of 15.5 passes defensed and 66 tackles from 2022 and 2023, when he became the first cornerback in NFL history to be named first-team All-Pro in his first two seasons. His coverage skills are second to none, but the two biggest knocks on Gardner are a lack of interceptions and pedestrian tackling. Even if he regains his All-Pro form under former Jets CB Aaron Glenn, a lack of passes Gardner's way from opposing QBs likely won't give him many chances to add to his career total of three interceptions. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a four-year, $120.4 million contract with the Jets in July of 2025. Traded to the Colts in November of 2025.
Likely won't be placed on IR
The Colts are not considering placing Gardner (calf) on injured reserve at the moment, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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.
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.
NFL Stats
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2025 NFL Game Log
2025
2024
2023
2022
2025 NFL Game Log
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Snap Distribution / Depth Chart
Snap Counts
Snap %
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2025 Sauce Gardner Split Stats
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Measurables Review
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How do Sauce Gardner's measurables compare to other cornerbacks?
This section compares his draft workout metrics with players at the same position. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that metric and it would be considered average.
Height
6' 3"Weight
190 lbs40-Yard Dash
4.41 secHand Length
9.63 inArm Length
33.50 in
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2022
Gardner has already established himself as arguably the best cornerback in the NFL, posting consecutive first team All-Pro seasons in his first two campaigns after being drafted fourth overall by the Jets in 2022. The Jets secondary is likely to remain elite with Gardner leading the way, but unfortunately for fantasy purposes, quarterbacks know Sauce's elite reputation and rarely test him. Gardner has only two career interceptions and dipped to 11 passes defensed in 2023 after leading the league with 20 as a rookie.
More Fantasy News
Set to miss time with calf strain
Gardner is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his calf Monday and is expected to miss some time, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Achilles appears intact
Gardner is believed to have suffered a calf strain during Sunday's contest against the Texans, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
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Won't return Sunday
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.
ANALYSIS
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Leaves Sunday's game early
Gardner (calf) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Texans.
ANALYSIS
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Seven solo stops
Gardner recorded seven tackles (seven solo) with one pass defensed in Sunday's 23-20 overtime loss to the Chiefs.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be back before playoffs
Gardner is considered week-to-week after suffering a calf strain in Sunday's loss to the Texans, but the Colts are optimistic that he'll play again before the end of the regular season, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
ANALYSIS
The Pro Bowl cornerback underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed the injury. Gardner had recorded 13 tackles and two passes defended in three games for Indianapolis since being acquired from the Jets at the trade deadline, and his loss will be a major blow to the Colts' secondary as they battle down the stretch for the AFC South title.
The Pro Bowl cornerback underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed the injury. Gardner had recorded 13 tackles and two passes defended in three games for Indianapolis since being acquired from the Jets at the trade deadline, and his loss will be a major blow to the Colts' secondary as they battle down the stretch for the AFC South title.