During the Colts’ 20-16 loss to the Texans, a report indicated the team believes Indianapolis cornerback Sauce Gardner avoided an injury to his Achilles.
James Boyd of TheAthletic.com asked Shane Steichen to confirm that, and the Colts coach said all he knows is Gardner’s injury was labeled as a calf injury.
Steichen offered no further information.
Colts fans would have felt better had Steichen confirmed NFL Media’s report that the initial diagnosis on Gardner is a calf strain. Gardner will undergo further medical testing on Monday.
Gardner was injured on a non-contact play while covering tight end Cade Stover on the Texans’ second play from scrimmage.
He returned to the sideline in street clothes and wearing a walking boot on his left leg later in the first half.
The Texans won their fourth game in a row and fifth in six games, pulling closer in the AFC South standings.
Houston beat Indianapolis 20-16 on Sunday, improving the Texans’ record to 7-5, while the Colts fell to 8-4. The Jaguars will move to 8-4 after they finish off the Titans.
The Colts reached the Houston 32 with 2:36 to play. Jonathan Taylor ran for 1 yard on first down, but officials missed a facemask penalty on safety Calen Bullock. Daniel Jones then threw three consecutive incompletions, giving Houston the ball back with 1:45 left.
The Colts never saw it again. Texans running back Woody Marks had runs of 1 and 9 yards, picking up a first down and burning two of the Colts’ timeouts. Houston then was able to run out the clock.
Officials had a questionable day with several big missed calls, including a pass interference penalty on each team that shouldn’t have been. Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn appeared to miss an extra point wide left, too, but it was called good.
Ultimately, it was Michael Badgley’s missed PAT that bounced off the left upright that left the Colts in a position where they couldn’t kick a field goal to tie it late.
The Texans outgained the Colts 364 to 281 and outplayed them, but they went 0-for-2 on fourth down and 2-for-5 in the red zone to keep it competitive.
C.J. Stroud returned after missing three games with a concussion and completed 22 of 35 passes for 276 yards and an interception. Marks ran for 64 yards on 19 carries, and Nico Collins caught five passes for 98 yards.
It was the first time this season that an opponent has held the Colts to fewer than 20 points.
Daniel Jones, who is playing with a fractured fibula, went 14-of-27 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Jonathan Taylor had 21 carries for 85 yards and was held scoreless. Alec Pierce caught four passes for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Josh Downs added two catches for 44 yards.
The Colts benefited from a questionable pass interference call against the Texans on their game-tying touchdown drive. The Texans, though, got one back on the ensuing drive.
On third-and-15 from the Indianapolis 25, the play clock reached zero before the snap. Officials did not throw a flag, and C.J. Stroud threw a pass at Xavier Hutchinson, who was on the ground. Officials threw a flag on Kenny Moore for an 8-yard defensive pass interference penalty.
Replays showed Moore did not interfere with Hutchinson.
Four plays later, Nico Collins was in the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown.
It appeared Ka’imi Fairbairn’s extra point was wide left, but officials called it good. Houston leads 20-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Stroud is 20-of-33 for 233 yards and an interception.
Officials called a 32-yard pass interference penalty on Texans safety Calen Bullock on third-and-19 from the Houston 44. There is no doubt Bullock grabbed the hand of and interfered with Alec Pierce. But Daniel Jones’ pass landed so far out of bounds that it was uncatchable.
CBS did not have its rules analyst comment on the penalty.
On the next play, Jones hit Tyler Warren for a 12-yard touchdown, and Michael Badgley’s PAT has tied it 13-13. Badgley missed his first extra point when it hit the upright, which is why the Colts don’t have the lead.
Jones is 12-of-21 for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Pierce has three catches for 56 yards, and Josh Downs has added two catches for 44 yards.
The initial diagnosis on Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner is a calf strain, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports.
Gardner will undergo further medical testing on Monday.
His Achilles does appear intact, per Pelissero, so the team has optimism that Gardner avoided a major injury.
Gardner was injured on a non-contact play while covering tight end Cade Stover on the Texans’ second play from scrimmage.
He is on the sideline in street clothes and wearing a walking boot on his left leg.
Gardner has 13 tackles and two passes defensed for Indianapolis this season.
The Texans, who led 10-6 at halftime, have padded their lead to 13-6 on a 43-yard Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal. They had a first down at the Colts 14, but Colts defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore sacked C.J. Stroud on third down.
