The Indianapolis Colts ended their London trip with a 30-13 win over the Washington Commanders. However, despite the team's convincing win, Indianapolis cornerback Sauce Gardner was anything but pleased with the way he performed individually.
After the game, Gardner admitted that his pursuit and overall effort, particularly on plays when the ball was away from him, fell well short of the standard he has set for himself.
“Just looking at my effort in the run game, when the ball is away from me, it’s embarrassing. That was unacceptable,” Gardner said.
The Colts entered the game hoping to see continued progress from a defense that had struggled significantly through the first two weeks of the season. Against Washington, the unit showed noticeable improvement, especially after the Commanders lost quarterback Marcus Mariota to injury. The Commanders then had to turn to rookie Athan Kaliakmanis under center.
Still, Gardner refused to allow the team's defensive improvement to overshadow or excuse his own mistakes. The former New York Jets star finished the game with two tackles and one pass defended.
However, Gardner was targeted five times and allowed four receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. Through the first four games of the season, he has accumulated 14 total tackles, including 11 solo tackles, and four passes defended. He has yet to register a sack, interception, or forced fumble this season.
Article Continues BelowIndianapolis opened the season with back-to-back losses. However, Gardner and the Colts have now turned things around with back-to-back victories. Indianapolis will next travel to face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Gardner knows his individual performance will be under the microscope, especially after arriving in Indianapolis in a blockbuster trade from the Jets. In the upcoming game, he has the chance to prove that the Week 4 game was simply a rare lapse rather than a sign of a larger problem.