Jets Star CB Unexpectedly Lands on Injury Report ahead of Steelers Game

Jets Star CB Unexpectedly Lands on Injury Report ahead of Steelers Game
Steelers Now Steelers Now

Star New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner unexpectedly landed on the team’s injury report for its Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Gardner was listed as a limited participant for the Jets on Wednesday, with the team citing a fibula injury. The Jets did not practice on Wednesday, according to a report by NFL Network, and instead submitted an estimated injury report.

Gardner said on Tuesday that “everything is good” with what previously had been called a calf injury.

“Ready to play on Sunday,” he said in a video posted to the team’s website.

Gardner played 12 snaps in the Jets’ preseason opener before sitting out the final two games.

A two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Gardner is the top player on the Jets roster entering the 2025 season. The No. 4 overall pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, he’s become a true lock-down cover cornerback and signed a $130 million contract extension with the team this offseason.

In the unlikely event that Gardner would miss the game or would miss time during the game, third-round rookie Azareye’h Thomas and 2024 fifth-round pick Qwan’tez Stiggers

Also listed as limited on the Jets injury report was backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is dealing with a knee injury. Listed as not practicing were former Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.

Vera-Tucker is expected to miss the rest of the 2025 season with a triceps injury. He will be replaced by guard Xavier Newman-Johnson, or by moving one of center Joe Tippman (and playing backup center Josh Myers) or tackle Max Mitchell to guard.

This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Jets Star CB Unexpectedly Lands on Injury Report ahead of Steelers Game