The Indianapolis Colts took an early hit in their Week 13 matchup with the Houston Texans when cornerback Sauce Gardner went down with a left calf injury on the opening drive. The team later ruled him out for the rest of the afternoon.

Gardner, acquired shortly before the NFL trade deadline, suffered the injury on a non-contact play. While covering Texans tight end Cade Stover, he shuffled backward, attempted to turn upfield, and appeared to strain the calf. He left the field limping and headed straight to the locker room.

He eventually returned to the sideline wearing regular clothes and a walking boot on his left foot.

Any extended absence from Gardner would be a major setback for Indianapolis. Since arriving in early November, he has upgraded the secondary with steady coverage, even if he hasn’t produced the highlight plays fans hoped for. Through two games with the Colts, he has recorded 13 tackles and two passes defended, and although he has yet to grab an interception, opposing quarterbacks have mostly avoided throwing his way.

Gardner’s game has always been built on a rare combination of length, instincts and discipline in coverage. At his best, he eliminates half the field by forcing quarterbacks to look elsewhere, relying on smooth footwork and an ability to stay attached to receivers through complex routes. 

His physicality at the line disrupts timing, and his recovery speed allows him to close windows that appear momentarily open. Gardner also brings strong tackling technique for a corner of his size, rarely shying away from contact in run support. Even when he isn’t producing turnovers, his presence alone reshapes how offenses approach a game plan.

With Gardner unavailable, the Colts will rely heavily on Charvarius Ward and Kenny Moore II to take on larger roles and stabilize the back end of the defense.