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Colts injury update: Sauce Gardner’s MRI shows a mild calf strain, leaving him week-to-week before Minnesota

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The scan ruled out the Achilles fear after Gardner left the Titans loss. Rigoberto Sanchez, Anthony Gould and Tyler Warren are also on the Colts' list before the trip to the Vikings.

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WhyNFL Sports DeskPublished
Sauce Gardner in a 2023 archive photograph.
Sauce Gardner in 2023 (archive photo). Photo: Chief ArmyReserve / Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Sauce Gardner’s MRI on Monday showed a mild strain in his left calf, Ian Rapoport reported, a diagnosis that leaves the Indianapolis Colts cornerback week-to-week and relieves the club’s worst fear after he limped off against the Tennessee Titans.

According to that report, the Pro Bowl corner will sit for a while, though the Colts do not see this as a long layoff. The club has not announced a timeline, and Gardner looks unlikely to be ready for Sunday’s trip to Minnesota. The first injury report of the week, due Wednesday, will be the first official word on his status.

Why the diagnosis matters

When Gardner went down on Tennessee’s first series of the second half, the first concern was an Achilles tear, which would have ended his season. The scan ruled that out. A mild strain is the best realistic outcome for a player who has had trouble with the same muscle group before: he sat out several games with a calf problem last season, and the Colts have not said whether this one is in the same leg.

His absence on Sunday was felt at once. Cam Taylor-Britt moved outside in his place, and a 36-yard pass interference flag against him set up one of Joey Slye’s two late field goals as Tennessee turned a 13-0 halftime deficit into a 26-20 win. Through six games Gardner has 17 tackles and four pass breakups.

The rest of the Colts’ list

  • Rigoberto Sanchez, punter: listed as questionable to return late in the game with a foot injury, shortly after a blocked punt was returned for the go-ahead Tennessee touchdown.
  • Anthony Gould, receiver and returner: evaluated for a concussion during the game; his status in the protocol will show on Wednesday’s report.
  • Tyler Warren, tight end: missed the first game of his career with a groin injury he aggravated in Friday’s practice.
  • Ashton Dulin, receiver, and Jaylon Carlies, linebacker: sat out a second straight week with hamstring and rib injuries.

The medical news lands on the same day the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard after the collapse against Tennessee, with Shane Steichen staying on as head coach.

What comes next

The 2-4 Colts visit the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday, October 25, at 1 p.m. EDT. Practice participation from Wednesday onward will show whether Gardner can do any work this week. Every designation is tracked on the WhyNFL injury page.

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