Fresh off their second loss of the season, the Indianapolis Colts made a rare midseason splash by trading for the New York Jets’ star cornerback Sauce Gardner at the deadline. The Colts have their eyes set on a deep playoff run, and the addition of Gardner is a massive boost.
The cornerback position has been a pain point for Indianapolis this season. Multiple injuries and an overdependence on unproven players have handicapped the Indianapolis pass defense. Gardner should be a huge upgrade over the Colts’ current defensive backs.
Every week, Gardner will have the all-important job of shutting down the opposing team’s best wide receiver. In Week 10, Gardner will be traveling with the team to Germany for a head-to-head matchup with an elite offensive weapon. While he’s only been a Colt for a few days, Gardner is expected to make an instant impact.
Colts’ new No. 1 cornerback Sauce Gardner will face the Atlanta Falcons’ No. 1 wide receiver Drake London
Ever since he was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick in 2022, Gardner has been one of the best cornerbacks in the league, and he has the accolades to back that statement up. Gardner has racked up Defensive Rookie of the Year honors and two first-team All-Pro nods in just three short years. Going into the 2025 season, Gardner was PFF’s top-ranked cornerback.
While some have criticized Gardner’s play this year, the numbers show that he remains an elite talent. Gardner leads the NFL across key statistics like average target separation, tight windows forced, and coverage snaps per reception. Clearly, he is still a nightmare to play against.
The Colts will need Gardner to be at his best in their Week 10 game against the Atlanta Falcons. Facing an undermanned Indianapolis defensive line, Atlanta quarterback Michael Penix Jr. should have plenty of time to target the Falcons’ No. 1 pass-catcher, Drake London.
Last season, London was a 1,000-yard wide receiver, and he’s on pace to surpass that mark again in 2025. The fourth-year pro has been on a hot streak as of late, with three 100-yard games in his last four outings.
The Colts’ banged-up secondary has been getting burned all year long by the likes of Troy Franklin, Zay Jones, and Oronde Gadsden II. If he had been playing against the same group, London could have done serious damage. But Gardner’s arrival changes everything.
Gardner routinely locks up premier wide receivers, and London will be his first test in an Indianapolis uniform. The last time Gardner and London met, the Atlanta wideout was held to a single eight-yard catch. The Colts are hoping Gardner can replicate that performance in Week 10 so they can get back in the win column.