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The Indianapolis Colts hope to bounce back next season after experiencing a second-half collapse that prevented them from making the playoffs, despite looking like one of the best teams in the league for the first portion of the 2025-26 campaign. Sauce Gardner was a big mid-season acquisition that didn’t quite pan out. But he’s aiming for a big performance next year like the rest of his teammates.
Shortly after the final mandatory minicamp session on Thursday, the 25-year-old cornerback delivered a message to opposing quarterbacks for next season, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN. Gardner wants opponents to throw his way more often next season, as he is looking to be more productive in those situations moving forward.
“I used to think that way, like my first couple years in the league,” said Gardner about being proud that opposing quarterbacks wouldn’t throw in his direction. “But it’s like, I want more now. I want to make plays on the ball. A lot more plays. So, that’s why I was saying, I want quarterbacks to look at me and go, ‘Oh yeah. Let me go at him.'”
Interesting comment from Colts CB Sauce Gardner on the final day of offseason work.
Said he wants QBs to test him more because he’s eager for more ball production this season. He wants to be a legit playmaker, not just a cover guy. pic.twitter.com/v8xBo1W0e3
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) June 11, 2026
He’s been a great cornerback throughout most of his four years in the league. However, because of that, opposing quarterbacks just haven’t challenged him too often. In 59 games so far in his career, Gardner has only recorded 49 pass deflections and three interceptions. 20 of those pass deflections and two of those picks came in his rookie campaign when quarterbacks were actually throwing in his direction.
We’ll see if Sauce Gardner gets his wish. The Colts are scheduled to begin training camp in late July, then kick off the regular season with a Week 1 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Indianapolis.
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