WESTFIELD, Ind. — The pass had a chance, but cornerback Sauce Gardner quickly erased it. Not because Daniel Jones threw a bad ball in the Indianapolis Colts’ first fully padded practice Monday or because Ashton Dulin ran a poor route. The connection between the veteran quarterback and his do-it-all receiver wasn’t disrupted because they weren’t on the same page.The reason for the incompletion was simple: Sauce Gardner. As Dulin ran a slant, Gardner broke inside and used his long arms to deflect what was supposed to be a surefire first-down catch. When the ball hit the ground, he briefly struck a pose to mark his territory.
Gardner has repeatedly stated this offseason that he wants more quarterbacks to test him, just like Jones did, but the reality of being a shutdown corner is that opportunities for breakups and interceptions are sparse.The infrequency of not seeing the ball can weigh on his psyche, Gardner admitted.“You don’t want (your preparation) to just be for nothing,” Gardner said on The Fan Morning Show last week. “The whole offseason, you’re working on (things) like, ‘This is what I’mma do.’ … You’re using your imagination like, ‘This is gonna be my pick-six.’ … Then you mess around and not even get the (opportunity). But at the end of the day, I still gotta prepare as if the ball is gonna come (my way) each and every play.”Gardner, whose last interception was in 2024, won’t get his full wish this year because no quarterback is going to repeatedly target a two-time first-team All-Pro. However, thanks to Charvarius Ward Sr. flanking Gardner on the opposite side of the field, it won’t be as easy for quarterbacks to ignore him. Ward, a 2023 second-team All-Pro, will make QBs think twice, as well, which could open the door for a lurking Gardner to make more plays on the ball.Charvarius Ward Sr. doesn't feel he's under pressure anymoreJames BoydGardner’s pass breakup Monday against Dulin was further evidence of what could be on the horizon for the Colts’ cornerback tandem, especially after he dominated Saturday’s practice with air-tight coverage in the red zone. Ward said last week that he didn’t “want to make any crazy predictions,” about what he and Gardner could do together, but Gardner was more bullish.“The way we talk, the way we think, and the way we know, we’re the best duo in the world,” Gardner said. “We hold each other accountable. We hold each other to a high standard because we know what we can do.”Last year, the Colts traded two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell to the New York Jets in exchange for Gardner. The hope was for Gardner and Ward to shore up the Colts’ secondary and help push them into the playoffs. Their pairing, however, only lasted one full game due to Ward’s suffering three concussions and Gardner’s season-ending calf injury. Both cornerbacks, however, are fully healthy as they begin their first full season together, and while their resumes are littered with accomplishments at previous stops, they’re still eager to prove themselves in Indy.“New team, new uniform,” Gardner said. “Two first-round picks (were) traded for me, so (there’s) a certain standard that I already hold myself up to. That doesn’t really change.”Backup QB competitionJones took all the first-team reps again on Monday, as the Colts’ offense leaned heavily on the run in the team’s first fully padded practice. He finished 5-of-7 passing, but perhaps more interesting than Jones’ ho-hum performance is what’s happening behind him on the depth chart.Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr. have been splitting the backup duties evenly since the spring, though on Saturday, Leonard took noticeably more second-string reps than Richardson. That trend continued Monday. However, Colts coach Shane Steichen, who missed Saturday’s practice due to a personal matter and returned Monday, dismissed the idea that either reserve has taken the lead in their position battle.“I think that was just the way the reps played out,” Steichen said when specifically asked about Saturday’s practice. “We had a little long-drive drill there, and (Leonard) got that long drive drill, which got more of the reps. Obviously, if they had rotated the other day, those would’ve been Anthony’s reps.”Colts CEO Carlie Irsay-Gordon on QB Daniel JonesJames BoydBuckner’s progressDeForest Buckner, who underwent season-ending neck surgery on New Year’s Eve last year, continues to gradually move in the right direction. The Colts’ star defensive tackle has only participated in a few 11-on-11 drills during training camp, and he was held out of 11-on-11 drills completely during Monday’s padded practice. However, he said he hopes to get some reps “with contact” during Indy’s second padded practice Tuesday.Buckner, 32, has been one of the Colts’ leaders and best players since they acquired him via a trade with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. The two-time All-Pro is entering the final year of a two-year, $46 million deal and acknowledged that his recovery from neck surgery could determine his future in Indy or elsewhere.“Everybody always has questions,” Buckner said last week. “Is he gonna be as good as he once was? … I try to stay away from all that stuff in the media, but obviously, I see it. This is a thing for me to prove to myself, and nobody else, that I can still play at a high level.”More news and notesMcGowan making playsSeth McGowan is building his case to be the Colts’ backup running back. The rookie seventh-round pick, who’s competing with 2025 fifth-round DJ Giddens for the role, has flashed in camp with his decisive and violent running style. McGown led Kentucky with 725 yards and 12 TDs last year, and Steichen said he was “excited” to see how McGown’s hard-nosed approach would be accentuated in a fully padded practice.“He’s not scared of contact, which is awesome at the running back position,” Steichen said. “You need that physicality, and he brings that.”Wohler injuryHunter Wohler is sidelined with a hamstring injury, Steichen announced Monday. The 2025 seventh-round pick, who missed all last season due to a Lisfranc injury, had taken most of the first-team strong safety reps in camp while playing alongside veteran Cam Bynum at free safety. Steichen did not say how long he expects Wohler to be out, but his absence allowed rookie third-round pick A.J. Haulcy to take more starting reps.Haulcy starred at New Mexico, Houston and LSU and racked up 10 interceptions between the three colleges. Last year, he was named first-team All-SEC.Bynum calls defenseAnother interesting wrinkle from Monday’s practice was that Bynum had the green dot responsibilities and was calling the defensive plays.Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo told The Fan Morning Show after practice that he was experimenting with Bynum commanding the defense because he doesn’t want to overload his rookies, most notably second-round linebacker CJ Allen. The former Georgia star is poised to start, but Anarumo said he wants Allen and the rest of his younger players to be able to play free and fast. Anarumo hasn’t made a final decision on who will call the defense, but this development is worth monitoring.
