Indianapolis Colts cornerback and former New York Jets star Sauce Gardner suffered a calf injury during the team's 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.
While the diagnosis is more positive than initially feared, Gardner is expected to miss several games recovering from the soft-tissue injury.
"Colts star CB Sauce Gardner, who suffered a calf strain in Sunday’s loss, is considered week-to-week with the hope he’s back during the regular season...Not long-term. But he’ll miss some time," wrote NFL insider Ian Rapoport in a post on X.
Colts injuries could mean a better draft pick for the Jets
The Jets own Indianapolis' first-round pick in 2026, and with the Colts' injuries piling up, that pick is looking better and better by the week.
Since making the trade-deadline deal to acquire Gardner, Indianapolis is 1-2 and has dropped out of first place in the AFC South.
Quarterback Daniel Jones, who was having a career resurgence with the Colts, is playing through a fractured fibula right now, and it's clearly affecting his mobility in the pocket.
These two key injuries could lead to a skid from the previously No. 1-seeded Indy and provide the Jets with a better draft pick come April.
As of Monday, Tankathon has the Colts picking No. 23 overall in the first round. That pick could be even better by the time the end of the season rolls around.
The Jets, projected to select No. 7, would hold two top-25 picks if the NFL draft were tomorrow.
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