Sauce Gardner Ruled Out of Colts-Texans Game With Calf Injury

The Colts cornerback had to be helped off the field.

Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner left Sunday’s game with a calf injury. / CBS Sports/Screengrab

Colts star cornerback Sauce Gardner appeared to suffer a left leg injury early in Sunday's game against the Texans and immediately headed back to the locker room.

Gardner hurt his calf on a non-contact play after attempting to defend during the Texans’ second offensive snap.

Medical staff helped Gardner off the field as he appeared to not be able to put weight on his left foot in order to walk himself off the field. Gardner was then taken to the locker room for further evaluation.

Update: The Colts have ruled Gardner out for the rest of the game.

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

— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) November 30, 2025

The CBS broadcast dissected the non-contact injury that led to Gardner’s departure. Analyst J.J. Watt notes that there isn’t a specific moment where the cornerback appears to suffer the injury, but Gardner walked off “gingerly” from the injury.

Sauce Gardner walks off the field in Indy VERY gingerly pic.twitter.com/33bMgT0aQf

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) November 30, 2025

This injury is definitely a concern for the Colts moving forward.

Gardner was just acquired by Indianapolis on Nov. 4 in a trade with the Jets, where he spent the first three and a half seasons of his career. Sunday marked Gardner’s third game with the Colts. Through two games, the cornerback registered 13 tackles to bring his season total to 33.

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