Jets watching closely as Sauce Gardner suffers scary non-contact injury

Former New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner left Sunday’s Indianapolis Colts–Houston Texans game with a scary non-contact calf injury. The Colts did not elaborate on the severity, but the nature of the play has many fearing it could be a worst-case scenario, such as an Achilles injury.

Gardner was unable to put weight on his left leg and was ruled out shortly after heading to the locker room. Everyone hopes for the best for Gardner, but there’s no hiding the fact that any major injury here would be devastating for Indianapolis.

It also carries massive implications for the Jets, who own the Colts’ 2026 and 2027 first-round picks. If Gardner were forced to miss a significant amount of time, it could derail Indianapolis’ season and turn what was once projected to be a late first-rounder into a much higher selection for the Jets.

This comes on the heels of another critical Colts injury, as quarterback Daniel Jones is currently playing through a fractured fibula. Now, in a crucial AFC South showdown against Houston, the Colts suddenly find themselves without their top defensive player and with their quarterback limited.

Sauce Gardner injury could have major draft implications for the Jets

Indianapolis entered the day one game ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars (who are currently winning) and two ahead of the Texans. A Houston victory would cut that gap in half, and Gardner’s loss only makes that possibility more likely.

The timing is nightmarish for the Colts, who traded a massive haul — two future first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell — to acquire Gardner at the deadline. He was supposed to be their defensive anchor.

If this injury turns out to be significant, the team's entire aggressive win-now push would be in jeopardy. Combined with Jones’ injury, the Colts are suddenly in trouble at the worst possible time.

And that’s where the Jets enter the picture. The Jets' draft capital is directly tied to the Colts’ fate. Their 2026 pick is currently projected around No. 28, but a late-season slide could push it into the teens or even higher.

Everyone hopes Gardner avoided the worst-case scenario, but the reality is unavoidable here. If the Colts unravel down the stretch, the Jets’ future draft position could shift dramatically. Here's to hoping Gardner's injury isn't as bad as initially feared.

*Update: NFL Network's Tom Pelissero is reporting that Gardner is believed to have suffered a calf strain. "Gardner’s Achilles appears intact, so there’s optimism he avoided a major injury."