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CB · #1 · Indianapolis Colts · week 8 vs Jacksonville Jaguars · Sun Nov 1 · 1:00 PM ET

Sauce Gardner

  • ROLE a starter
  • CLASS 2022 · R1 P4
  • EXP 4 seasons
  • AGE 25-28
  • DEPTH LCB1
99%PLAY EXPECTED

As of week 8, Sauce Gardner was a CB for IND, age 26, 4 seasons of experience, drafted in round 1. In 2026 through week 7 he was listed at depth rank 1 on his club's depth chart; he had played 6 games on 89% of snaps; his line was 2.8 tackles a game, 0 sacks a game and 0.7 passes defended a game. Before 2026 he played 59 games (postseason included) over 4 seasons with 2 Pro Bowls and 2 first-team All-Pro. His injury history held 10 episodes (calf 2, concussion 2, back 1), 3 of them reaching OUT, 2 a repeat of an earlier site; the last was a chest injury in 2026 week 3.

The full read

In short

How our call moved in week 8

  • our call, P(plays)

78% LIKELY → 99% EXPECTED

Every call we wrote for him in week 8, earliest first, as written.

In short

Sauce Gardner is a starter at left cornerback for IND — 100% of the snaps in his best week of 7. He has a calf injury. His team named him inactive in week 7. His team has not listed him on the final report. We say he plays — 99%, in a band that plays 94% of the time. We have said PLAY since 124 hours before kickoff.

The reader concurs · grade B

The Oct 30 beat report is forward-looking about this Sunday's game, stating the Colts "will get starting outside corner Sauce Gardner back" and that he "was a full participant in the Colts' two practices this week" (P1), which is this week's practice window, not history.

What the read cites

What was reportedSource
1“the Colts will get starting outside corner Sauce Gardner back after the All-Pro left midway through the team's Week 6 game with an injury to his left calf”IndyStar · 2026-10-30
2“He was a full participant in the Colts' two practices this week.”IndyStar · 2026-10-30
3“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · 2026-10-29
4“Sauce Gardner practiced in full for the first time since suffering a calf injury against Tennessee, offering a potential starting option.”IndyStar · 2026-10-29
5“The Indianapolis Colts today released their injury report ahead of week 8 of the NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.”Stampede Blue · 2026-10-29
The reader's full reasoning

The rest of the reading

The club's own practice notebook independently confirms the trajectory — Gardner (calf) was a full participant Thursday after being limited Wednesday (P3) — and the defensive coordinator's beat coverage frames him as "a potential starting option" with the depth chart thinned by Taylor-Britt's IR placement and Walley's knee (P2). Nothing in the passages contradicts the PLAY call; the only unresolved item is the absence of a filed Friday/Saturday game-status designation, which keeps this at B rather than A.

19versions in week 8
10average, every player
54most for one player

How the call moved

EXPECTED since Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET · 69 h before kickoff. Biggest move: 80% → 99%, Thu Oct 29 · 12:05 PM ET to Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET, with no club report in between.

Our call

Injury report

Our call · week 8

NOT EXPECTEDUNLIKELYCOIN FLIPLIKELYEXPECTED

99% · EXPECTED

we expect him to play — this band plays 94% of the time (92–96%), measured out of fold. We stand behind this one.

No dated practice report for him in week 8

The team has not published one we can date, or the window has not reached it. Not the same as his having practiced.

Head start

  • Our call
  • Kickoff

The evidence behind his current call

What was reportedSource
“the Colts will get starting outside corner Sauce Gardner back after the All-Pro left midway through the team's Week 6 game with an injury to his left calf”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“He was a full participant in the Colts' two practices this week.”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30

Stats, with ranges — dot = his average, bar = his game range

  • Tackles / game2.9 range 1.0–6.0

    wk 1–8 · 7 games

  • Sacks / game0.0 range 0.0–0.0

    wk 1–8 · 7 games

  • Passes defended / game0.9 range 0.0–2.0

    wk 1–8 · 7 games · above most of his peers

  • Snap share89.4% range 48–100

    wk 1–8 · 7 games

Snaps by week — his larger of the offence and defence share

  1. 100%wk 1
  2. 95%wk 2
  3. 91%wk 3
  4. 100%wk 4
  5. 98%wk 5
  6. 48%wk 6
  7. 94%wk 8

Missed while on the injury report

SeasonWeeks on the reportMissed while listed
202641

Only the weeks he was on the injury report with a recorded result — not every game of his career.

Medical history

WhenInjuryWeeks on a reportWorst status
2026 · wk 7calf2Out
2026 · wk 2chest2—
2025 · wk 14calf5Out
2025 · wk 13back1—
2025 · wk 8concussion2Out
2025 · wk 2groin2—
2025 · wk 1fibula1—
2024 · wk 14hamstring4Out
2023 · wk 8concussion1—
2023 · wk 6illness1Questionable
2022 · wk 12calf1—

Every injury episode on file for him, as the record holds it.

Injury history by season · 11 episodes · 22 weeks on a report · same site more than once: calf ×3

  • ruled out
  • questionable
  • listed, and played

Each bar is one episode: the week it began and how many weeks he was on a report, coloured by the worst status.

The rest of his team's report in week 8

PlayerPosPracticeWhose wordCallChance he playsBand
Rigoberto SanchezPFULLoursPLAY99%EXPECTED
Pharaoh BrownTEUNKteam's wordOut
Kevin GivensDTUNKteam's wordOut
Charlie HeckOTUNKteam's wordOut
Akeem Davis-GaitherLBFULLoursPLAY99%EXPECTED
Andrew OgletreeTEDNPteam's wordQuestionable
Alec PierceWRUNKteam's word—
Cam Taylor-BrittCBUNKteam's word—
Micheal ClemonsDEUNKteam's word—
Matt GoncalvesGFULLoursPLAY99%EXPECTED
Anthony GouldWRFULLteam's wordOut
Tyler WarrenTEFULLoursPLAY99%EXPECTED
Justin WalleyCBDNPteam's wordOut
Riley LeonardQBUNKteam's wordOut
Tim SmithDTFULLoursPLAY75%LIKELY
CJ AllenLBFULLoursPLAY96%EXPECTED
Bryce BoettcherLBDNPteam's wordQuestionable

The model reads the room: who else is out shifts what his own designation is worth.

The evidence behind his earlier calls

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 27 · 10:00 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 27 · 12:02 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Tue Oct 27 · 5:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 28 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 28 · 12:05 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Wed Oct 28 · 5:02 PM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 7:02 AM ET

We have not read the news for this player this week.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 12:05 PM ET

We read the news for this call. The quotes we found are not shown publicly.

The evidence behind the call made Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET

We read the news for this call. The quotes we found are not shown publicly.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 2:10 AM ET

We read the news for this call. The quotes we found are not shown publicly.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 7:05 AM ET

We read the news for this call. The quotes we found are not shown publicly.

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 12:05 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29
“Sauce Gardner practiced in full for the first time since suffering a calf injury against Tennessee, offering a potential starting option.”IndyStar · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Indianapolis placed Cam Taylor-Britt on injured reserve earlier this week, and Justin Walley missed the second consecutive day with a knee injury.”IndyStar · Thu Oct 29

The evidence behind the call made Fri Oct 30 · 5:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29
“Sauce Gardner practiced in full for the first time since suffering a calf injury against Tennessee, offering a potential starting option.”IndyStar · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Indianapolis placed Cam Taylor-Britt on injured reserve earlier this week, and Justin Walley missed the second consecutive day with a knee injury.”IndyStar · Thu Oct 29

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 7:05 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29
“Sauce Gardner practiced in full for the first time since suffering a calf injury against Tennessee, offering a potential starting option.”IndyStar · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“Indianapolis placed Cam Taylor-Britt on injured reserve earlier this week, and Justin Walley missed the second consecutive day with a knee injury.”IndyStar · Thu Oct 29

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 12:02 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“the Colts will get starting outside corner Sauce Gardner back after the All-Pro left midway through the team's Week 6 game with an injury to his left calf”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“He was a full participant in the Colts' two practices this week.”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sat Oct 31 · 5:06 PM ET

What was reportedSource
“the Colts will get starting outside corner Sauce Gardner back after the All-Pro left midway through the team's Week 6 game with an injury to his left calf”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“He was a full participant in the Colts' two practices this week.”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 6:06 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“the Colts will get starting outside corner Sauce Gardner back after the All-Pro left midway through the team's Week 6 game with an injury to his left calf”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“He was a full participant in the Colts' two practices this week.”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30

The evidence behind the call made Sun Nov 1 · 11:02 AM ET

What was reportedSource
“the Colts will get starting outside corner Sauce Gardner back after the All-Pro left midway through the team's Week 6 game with an injury to his left calf”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30
“Cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), guard Matt Goncalves (ankle), wide receiver Anthony Gould (concussion) and defensive tackle Tim Smith (ankle) were all full participants Thursday after being limited Wednesday.”Indianapolis Colts · Thu Oct 29

From the same articles (these quotes do not name him)

What was reportedSource
“He was a full participant in the Colts' two practices this week.”IndyStar · Fri Oct 30

Role

Call history

The data behind this page — the timeline in words, every call and week on record, about him, and what this page does not show

Profile — as of week 8

RoleCB1 · 89% snaps
Season2026 · 6 games through wk 7
Per game2.8 tackles · 0 sacks · 0.7 passes defended
Career4 seasons · 59 games before 2026
Honors2× Pro Bowl · 2× first-team All-Pro
Injuries10 episodes · last: chest, 2026 wk 3
Bioage 26 · 4 seasons' experience · drafted round 1

Where the profile comes from

Built from: honors.db; nflverse injuries_2026.csv; medical.db; nflverse players.csv; profile.db; nflverse roster_2026.csv; nflverse roster_weekly_2026.csv; nflverse snap_counts_2026.csv; nflverse stats_player_week_2026.csv. Every number in it is one those sources hold.

nflverse injuries_2026.csv

About him

About himAs the record holds it
His rolea starter at left cornerback — 100% of the snaps in his best week of 7
Listed on the depth chartfirst at left cornerback
Snaps played89% a week on average over 7 weeks, 100% at his highest, 5% on special teams
Build6 ft 3 in · 190 lb
CollegeCincinnati
Drafted2022, round 1 pick 4, by NYJ
Age25-28 at the season's start
Experience4 seasons

When this call was made, and when the world knew

  1. WrittenWe first said PLAY.
  2. PublicOur call became public when the week settled.
  3. KickoffKickoff.

How our call moved, earliest first

WhenLeadCallChance he playsBandOn what
Tue Oct 27 · 10:00 AM ET124 hPLAY78%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Tue Oct 27 · 12:02 PM ET122 hPLAY78%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Tue Oct 27 · 5:05 PM ET117 hPLAY78%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Wed Oct 28 · 7:02 AM ET103 hPLAY78%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Wed Oct 28 · 12:05 PM ET98 hPLAY78%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Wed Oct 28 · 5:02 PM ET93 hPLAY78%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 2:10 AM ET84 hPLAY80%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 7:02 AM ET79 hPLAY80%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 12:05 PM ET74 hPLAY80%LIKELYafter his team's announcement
Thu Oct 29 · 5:05 PM ET69 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 2:10 AM ET60 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 7:05 AM ET55 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 12:05 PM ET50 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Fri Oct 30 · 5:02 PM ET45 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Sat Oct 31 · 7:05 AM ET31 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Sat Oct 31 · 12:02 PM ET26 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Sat Oct 31 · 5:06 PM ET21 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Sun Nov 1 · 6:06 AM ET7 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything
Sun Nov 1 · 11:02 AM ET2 hPLAY99%EXPECTEDbefore his team said anything

19 calls in week 8, and the call never flipped between PLAY and SIT. Each lead time is the one that call actually had when it was written — never recounted from now. A call that changes is the record working: new evidence arrived and we said so, in public, before the game.

What would change this read

What would change this read
The official Week 8 final injury report designation (Questionable/Doubtful/Out) filed Friday Oct 30 or Saturday Oct 31 for Gardner (calf)
Friday Oct 30 practice participation for Gardner — P1 says only 'two practices this week', so confirm whether he practiced or rested Friday
A Shane Steichen or Lou Anarumo remark on whether Gardner starts Sunday vs Jacksonville or is on a snap count
Final status of CB Justin Walley (knee), who missed consecutive days (P2, P3), and whether the Colts list Gardner as a starter on the Week 8 depth chart
Confirmation that Gardner was not moved before the Nov trade deadline (P4, P5 context)

We went and found out more

Rank 1 (listed first on his depth chart), 12 documents deep, because: llm_unsure. Fetched 12 of 12.

Last week, when he was on the report

Last weekHis team saidOur callPlayed
Week 7OutSITno

Named inactive in week 7

The team's own list (calf). We held it before kickoff, so it could have informed a call. Matched to him by his player id.