Cornerback Sauce Gardner shared his thoughts on this week’s trade to the Colts for the first time on Thursday.
The Jets traded Gardner to the Colts for two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell and Gardner shared the first thoughts that went through his mind when Jets General Manager Darren Mougey called him with news of the deal on Tuesday.
“Please let it be my ideal situation,” Gardner said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. “I don’t want to go to a losing team. I don’t want to go to a team on the other side of the world.”
Gardner said the Colts fit as a desirable destination because “I want to win,” his college teammate Alec Pierce was already on the team, it was closer to his hometown of Detroit, and his favorite color is blue.
Gardner did not speak to reporters on Wednesday because he was still in the concussion protocol, but he was a full participant in practice and full clearance came before he took the podium. That puts him on track to play against the Falcons in Berlin this Sunday.
The Colts traded receiver AD Mitchell to the Jets this week as part of the deal for cornerback Sauce Gardner.
A second-round pick in 2024, Mitchell looked like he was on his way to having a breakout game against the Rams back in Week 4. But then he infamously dropped the ball before crossing the goal line while trying to celebrate a potential touchdown.
Mitchell had made just two catches for 15 yards since that game, clearly falling out of favor with head coach Shane Steichen, who also serves as Indianapolis’ offensive play-caller.
In his Wednesday press conference, Steichen was asked if he had a chance to talk to Mitchell since the Colts agreed to the deal.
“I did. We talked to him before the trade happened, right before it happened,” Steichen said, via transcript from the team. “And obviously, I got a lot of respect for AD. I think AD is a very talented player. This is part of the business. Like I said, I wish him all the best. I hope he goes and has great success in New York.”
Mitchell appeared in 25 career games for the Colts with eight starts. He caught 32 passes for 464 yards with the club.
There is some positive news on the injury front for the newest member of the Colts.
Cornerback Sauce Gardner (concussion) was a full participant in his first practice with his new team.
Gardner is in concussion protocol and missed the Jets’ Week 8 win over the Bengals before the Week 9 bye. Head coach Shane Steichen noted that Gardner is set to play as long as he clears the protocol.
But the Colts have several players who did not participate in the day’s session.
Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck), receiver Michael Pittman (glute), cornerback Kenny Moore (Achilles), defensive end Samson Ebukam (knee), receiver Anthony Gould (knee), and defensive end Tyquan Lewis (groin) all did not participate in the session.
Guard Matt Goncalves also did not participate for personal reasons.
Sauce Gardner spent his first day with the Colts on Wednesday and quarterback Daniel Jones said that you can “feel the energy” that the trade for the cornerback generated.
The move came days after the Colts dropped to 7-2 in a loss to the Steelers, but the investment that the Colts made — two first-round picks and wide receiver AD Mitchell — to get Gardner was a clear sign that the team believes it is capable of making a big run this year. Jones said that message is one that has created confidence across the roster.
“I think, obviously, they believe in our team and what we can do this year,” Jones said from the team’s locker room. “We’ve played well. There’s still a lot in front of us and we’ve got to go continue to improve and play well week to week. But, as players, you see that movement from ownership, from management and the coaches, I think it definitely gives you confidence.”
Trading away first-round picks in 2026 and 2027 also limits the Colts’ ability to take a big swing for another quarterback, so it is also a pretty sure sign of the team’s confidence in Jones beyond this season. Jones is on a one-year deal, but said on Wednesday that he hasn’t thought about how the Gardner trade plays into his own future.
The Colts made a big move by trading for cornerback Sauce Gardner on Tuesday.
In his Wednesday press conference, Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen told reporters that he’s happy to have the cornerback aboard.
“Obviously, really excited about adding Sauce Gardner to our football team,” Steichen said, via Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan. “His resume speaks for itself — Pro Bowler, All-Pro. So, to get a guy in the building like that, it just elevates everybody around us. So really excited to add him.”
While Gardner is in concussion protocol and missed the Jets’ Week 8 win over the Bengals before the Week 9 bye, Steichen noted Gardner is set to practice on Wednesday. If he clears protocol, then he will play Sunday when the Colts take on the Falcons in Berlin.
Gardner has recorded 20 total tackles and six passes defensed in his seven games so far in 2025.
