Cornerback Sauce Gardner returns from injury, injecting life into the Colts' defense for a crucial Week 17 matchup against the Jaguars.
When the Jacksonville Jaguars meet the Indianapolis Colts in Week 17, they'll face a Colts defense that is getting back its prized in-season acquisition in cornerback Sauce Gardner.
After missing three games with a calf injury, Gardner will return to the Colts' lineup Sunday. This will mark just his third appearance for Indy since being traded from the New York Jets on Nov. 4, just before the trade deadline.
Gardner will provide much-needed help for a Colts team desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win Saturday by the division-rival Houston Texans (10-5) over the Los Angeles Chargers (1-4) would eliminate the Colts from playoff contention even before they host the Jags on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Regardless, Gardner will give the Colts a huge boost for a secondary group that also has been missing CB Charvarius Ward. Ward remains on injured reserve after suffering multiple concussions this season; previously the Colts' No. 1 cornerback, Ward entered the NFL's concussion protocol for a third time on the Monday after appearing in Indy's last game against Jacksonville, in Week 14.
Gardner, when healthy, is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. There's a reason why the Colts parted with two first-round picks and receiver Adonai Mitchell to acquire Gardner just three and a half months after he'd signed a contract extension with the Jets in July.
The question now is will the Colts CB, in his first game back, shadow anyone on the Jaguars' offense or will he stick to one side? Will Gardner follow Brian Thomas Jr.? How often will he match up with Jakobi Meyers?
Gardner should help the Colts cut down on being torched against the pass, as they have been in recent weeks without him. In the last three weeks without Gardner, the Colts' expected points added per pass were 0.33 (at Jaguars), 0.02 (at Seahawks) and 0.52 (vs. 49ers). The 0.52 in Week 16 ranked 31st in the league. Only the Dallas Cowboys (0.77) had a higher EPA/pass allowed.
On the flip side, the Jaguars' weekly EPA/pass over that same period were 0.33, 0.70, and 0.12.
With Gardner missing the first meeting with the Jaguars, quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw for 244 yards on 17-of-30 passing with two touchdowns and a quarterback rating of 105.4. That game is part of an active four-game stretch with a QB rating of at least 100 for Lawrence.
Head coach Liam Coen will know Gardner is on his way back and will know to scheme up an offense that should limit their exposure to Gardner. The Jaguars have a division title in their sights. It's possible they don't get to 36 points, as they did in Week 14. The Colts will be improved just by having Gardner back. However, the Jaguars also have plenty of other ways to attack the Colts and neutralize Gardner's impact.