INJURY UPDATE: Colts Deeply Concerned as Newly Acquired Star CB Exits After Just Two Snaps – A Cornerback They Paid a Heavy Price to Acquire
Indianapolis, Indiana – Lucas Oil Stadium fell into shock just minutes after kickoff. In a painful 20–16 loss to the Houston Texans, the Indianapolis Colts didn’t just surrender a winnable home game — they also watched their newest defensive cornerstone, the player they paid a massive price to acquire, go down almost immediately: star cornerback Sauce Gardner.
And the worst part? He exited after just two defensive snaps.
On Houston’s second offensive play, Gardner abruptly pulled up while trailing a route, grabbing at his left calf before hobbling off the field. He couldn’t place any weight on the leg, requiring staff members to help him off as the Colts sideline went silent.
Minutes later, Indianapolis officially ruled him OUT for the remainder of the game.
Gardner later returned to the sideline wearing a walking boot, confirming the injury was to his left calf. Early indications suggested it wasn’t an Achilles rupture — the nightmare scenario for a cornerback known for explosive movement — but concern remains high. He will undergo an MRI within the next 24 hours to determine the severity of the strain.
Speaking after the game, Gardner admitted how frightening the moment felt:
“It felt like someone shot me in the calf. Just one moment and I knew something was wrong. I always fight through everything, but this time… I just couldn’t.”
For the Colts, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Just weeks ago, they traded two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to acquire Gardner from the New York Jets in a blockbuster deal, expecting him to immediately elevate their defensive identity. And for two games, he did exactly that — pushing the Colts to No. 1 in the NFL in man-to-man coverage percentage.
But Gardner’s early exit left Indianapolis without its top cover corner, forcing the defense into uncomfortable adjustments. Without him, Houston attacked more freely through the air, sustaining key drives and ultimately outlasting a Colts team already dealing with offensive limitations and injuries elsewhere.
Now, as the Colts (8–4) prepare for a crucial AFC South showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars next week, the entire city is holding its breath.
They paid an enormous price to bring Gardner to Indianapolis.
And now, they can only hope that price doesn’t turn into the storyline that derails their season.
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