Breaking down the biggest moves from the 2025 NFL trade deadline
USA TODAY Sports’ Prince Grimes recaps the biggest moves from the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
Two plays into the Indianapolis Colts’ first defensive drive against the Houston Texans, the AFC South leaders may have lost one of their newest defensive stars.
The Colts have ruled cornerback Sauce Gardner questionable to return with a calf injury in their Week 13 divisional game. Gardner appeared to get hurt while taking on a block from Texans tight end Cade Stover.
CBS cameras caught Gardner heading back to the Colts’ locker room with team trainers. He appeared almost completely unable to put weight on his left foot.
Indianapolis acquired the two-time All-Pro in a trade with the New York Jets ahead of the trade deadline, sending two first-round picks and receiver Adonai Mitchell to New York as part of the deal.
Sauce Gardner injury update
The Colts have declared Gardner questionable to return to their Week 13 game with a calf injury.
Gardner sustained the injury at some point during his second snap on defense against the Texans. The two-time All-Pro cornerback was taking on a block from Stover, one of Houston’s tight ends, when he pulled up with a leg injury and walked gingerly off of the field.
CBS cameras later showed Gardner exiting to the locker room with a couple of Colts athletic trainers. The cornerback appeared unable to put any weight on his left foot.
Gardner had not missed any time in his first four weeks with his second team, but he’s in danger of missing almost all of Week 13’s divisional game.
Colts CB depth chart
The Colts traded two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets for Gardner ahead of the NFL trade deadline in early November. Gardner recorded at least six tackles and exactly one pass defense in each of his first two games with Indianapolis before exiting Week 13’s game early.
Indianapolis started the season with Xavien Howard after his one-year hiatus in 2024, but he retired after starting the first four games of the season.
This story will be updated.
