Overview
- During Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins, cornerback Sauce Gardner suffered a calf injury and was listed questionable to return while Charvarius Ward left with a shin injury and did not come back.
- With both starters unavailable, Indianapolis turned to Justin Walley and Kenneth Harris on the outside and Kapena Gushiken in the slot to finish the game.
- Reporters note this is Gardner’s third calf issue since last year and that an October MRI showed a mild mid‑calf strain that had been managed on a week‑to‑week basis.
- The Colts traded two first‑round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for Gardner in November 2025, making his availability a major roster and competitive concern for the team.
- The immediate consequences are heavier workloads for inexperienced backs, likely practice‑squad elevations or signings, and short‑term defensive game‑plan changes while the team assesses Gardner and Ward for upcoming games.