Sauce Gardner helped off field in possible Colts injury blow

This had the look of a potential nightmare for both the Colts and Sauce Gardner.

Gardner, the star acquired early this month from the Jets, had to be helped off the field Sunday with what the Colts called a calf injury while playing in his third game with his new team.

He has since been ruled out.

Early in the first quarter against the Texans, Gardner was blanketing tight end Cade Stover before coming up lame and hobbling away from the play. He was down on the field for a short while before getting to his feet and attempting to walk off the field.

Gardner could not make it to the sideline, instead putting his arms around trainers and helped off the field without putting pressure on his left leg. There was no immediate news regarding the severity of the injury.

In his fourth year in the league, Gardner has been playing in his first games with a quality team, the now 8-3 Colts, seeing the standout cornerback as a missing piece for their defense.

Gardner — signed to a four-year, $120.4 million deal in July — was shipped to Indianapolis for first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 and receiver Adonai Mitchell.

The Texans struck first in the opening quarter, 3-0.