Sauce Gardner injury update: Colts star DB suffers non-contact calf injury vs. Texans

The Indianapolis Colts had a tough game against the Houston Texans in Week 13, and they had to play most of the game without their best defender. 

Sauce Gardner went down with a non-contact lower-body injury in the first quarter. He was helped off the field by the training staff and taken directly into the locker room for testing. 

Here are the latest injury updates for Garner's calf injury. 

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Sauce Gardner injury updates

Sauce Gardner was ruled out for the remainder of the game. 

Sauce Gardner has been ruled out. Https://t.co/kz5gajI53O

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 30, 2025

After being ruled out, sources told NFL Network's Tom Pelissero that Gardner is dealing with a calf strain. While this can be a tough injury to manage, it would be a better outcome than an Achilles injury. 

Gardner told reporters after the game that he felt like he was shot in the leg but knew he didn't injure his Achilles because he felt the pain in the upper portion of his lower-leg. Gardner is still hoping to return "sooner than later," according to Pelissero.

Gardner was in man coverage and looked like he suffered the injury when the Texans player cut inside toward the middle of the field. 

Sauce Gardner is hurt and he doesn't take contact here. Don't like this one bit. #Colts#ForTheShoe#Texans#HOUvsIND pic.twitter.com/U6z2wKJx7X

— Chris Shepherd (@NFLscheme) November 30, 2025 

However, it appears that Gardner avoided catastrophe. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that Gardner is week-to-week with a calf strain, and there is hope he can return for the regular season.

Sauce Gardner trade

The Colts acquired Gardner from the New York Jets ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline. Indianapolis sent New York a 2026 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick and WR Adonai Mitchell. 

MORE: Grading the Colts trading for Sauce Gardner

Colts CB depth chart

The injury to Gardner is a concerning one. While losing a star cornerback is never good, the absence leaves the Colts with only three healthy cornerbacks. Indianapolis will likely have to have some depth safeties or nickle backs slot in to help make up for missing Gardner. 

MORE: How did Sauce Gardner play in his Colts debut?

Colts remaining schedule

Indianapolis came into Week 13 sitting atop the AFC South. The Colts had a top-four seed in the AFC playoff picture with six games left in the regular season. With the game against the Texans in Week 13, and three more divisional games down the stretch, the Colts have far from clinched a playoff spot.