Jets receive major Sauce Gardner injury update ahead of preseason game

Preseason injuries are never easy to stomach, and that's especially true when they involve a team’s best players. That's why it was no surprise that New York Jets fans were concerned when star cornerback Sauce Gardner was sidelined from practice this week with a calf issue.

Head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters earlier in the week that Gardner missed Wednesday's joint practice with the New York Giants due to "calf soreness" and that the team was still evaluating the severity of the injury.

Anytime a calf injury comes into play, there’s reason for concern, as these issues often linger and, in a worst-case scenario, can develop into something more serious. Fortunately, that doesn't appear to be the case here.

The Jets released a list of nine players who won't suit up for their preseason game against the Giants tonight, and despite missing practice this week, Gardner is surprisingly not on the list.

While the likes of CB Kris Boyd, DT Byron Cowart, RB Isaiah Davis, DE Jermaine Johnson, WR Allen Lazard, LB Francisco Mauigoa, QB Tyrod Taylor, CB Azareye'h Thomas, and DT Quinnen Williams are all nursing injuries and won't play tonight, Gardner is expected to be on the field.

Jets reveal best-case scenario Sauce Gardner injury update ahead of Giants preseason game

Gardner signed a four-year, $120.4 million extension this offseason that made him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history. It was a well-deserved honor for a player who joined Micah Parsons and Lawrence Taylor as the only defenders in NFL history to make first-team All-Pro in consecutive seasons to start a career.

The Jets have high hopes for Gardner, who will be looking to bounce back after an admittedly down year by his standards in 2024. The organization believes new head coach Aaron Glenn can help return Gardner to his All-Pro form.

But to do so, he needs to be on the field. Gardner has avoided major injuries so far in his NFL career, yet calf issues are nothing to take lightly. That’s why many expected the Jets to play it safe with their star cornerback and keep him sidelined indefinitely.

The fact that he's playing in tonight's game just a few days after tweaking his calf suggests the injury was extremely minor. The aforementioned Quinnen Williams, who returned to practice in a limited capacity this week, has been nursing a calf injury for a couple of weeks now and will not play tonight.

The Jets are confident enough to put Gardner on the field in a meaningless August exhibition game. That should be as clear a sign as any that this injury was indeed minor.

UPDATE: Despite not being on the released list, Gardner is NOT playing in tonight's preseason game, although his calf injury is not considered serious. The Jets will hold him out as a precaution.

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