Sauce Gardner shook the league after the Indianapolis Colts acquired him in a blockbuster $120 million trade. Head coach Shane Steichen, while speaking to the media, revealed whether the highest-paid cornerback will suit up against the Atlanta Falcons.

“Obviously, really excited about Sauce Gardner in our football team. You know his resume speaks for itself. So to get a guy in a building like that just elevates everybody around us. So I’m really excited to add him to the team,”  head coach Shane Steichen said.

During the 4th quarter against the Carolina Panthers, Gardner suffered a concussion that put him out for two weeks. According to the report by Kevin Bowen, Gardner rejoined practice with the Colts to play against the Falcons after clearing the league’s five-step concussion protocol. Gardner is scrambling to grasp the Colts’ defensive scheme. He’ll need to quickly absorb terminology, alignments, and adjustments so he can step into game action without hesitation. The Colts come in with the league’s seventh-worst pass defense in terms of yards allowed (244.8), and Gardner will instantly provide a shut-down cornerback for that unit.  

Gardner’s elite credentials as the Defensive Rookie of the Year and back-to-back First-Team All-Pro honors in 2022 and 2023 provide value to the Colts’ defensive unit. Over 55 career games, Gardner has 201 tackles, 46 passes defended, three interceptions, one sack, and a forced fumble. Gardner’s shutdown ability can force opposing quarterbacks to second-guess and potentially lead to interceptions or forced errors. If he settles quickly, he can help the Colts get past the turnovers that have plagued their losses this season.

Falcons eye Colts defensive upgrade

The Indianapolis Colts’ defensive upgrade of Sauce Gardner could be troubling for the Falcons’ offense. The upcoming fixture in Berlin could be a true test for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. because a loss could put them on a 4 games loss streak.

Gardner’s agile coverage gett him on the field at some point during the game if he is not flagged as a starter. Atlanta’s offense, led by Penix Jr. and receivers Drake London and Darnell Mooney, has produced 1,832 passing yards this season and averages 6.8 yards per attempt. So far, this season, Gardner has not allowed more than two receptions to a single receiver in a game. He has forced a tight window on 52% of his targets and has remained within 1 yard of his coverage matchup for a total of 90 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats.

Gardner becomes a key challenger for the Falcons’ offense by making receptions difficult. On the flip side, Atlanta’s offense ranks in the lower half of the league and scores only 17.9 points per game, which is 28th in the NFL. They rank 15th in total yards per game, passing yards per game, and rushing yards per game. Highlighting the fact that, though the offense moves the ball well, they struggle to convert the drives in the red zone.

Top Stories

Josh Allen Makes Lifetime Buffalo Announcement as Pregnant Hailee Steinfeld Receives Bills QB’s Clear Family Plan

Travis Kelce Reveals Real Reason Behind Decision to Snub the Media Amid Retirement Rumors

Major Chiefs Concern Surrounding Patrick Mahomes Revealed as Andy Reid Deals With Several Injury Woes

Dan Marino Says Being Franchise QB Isn’t for Everyone Amid Dolphins’ Decision to Bench Tua Tagovailoa

Jerry Jones Announces If Trevon Diggs Will Exit, Gives Final Verdict on Cowboys Head Coach

Meanwhile, the Colts have shown offensive effectiveness, and now they balance that with defensive firepower after the trade, becoming a complete unit.