Jets' Sauce Gardner: Expected to be fine for Week 1
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Coach Aaron Glenn said Monday that Gardner (calf) is on track to play Week 1 against the Steelers on Sept. 7, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Gardner has missed some time with a calf issue this month, but he returned to practice last week. The soon-to-be 25-year-old (Aug. 31) is hoping to return to his All-Pro form after landing a massive extension from the Jets this summer. Gardner won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2022 and was named a first-team All-Pro each of his first two seasons before his play slipped some in 2024.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Practices on Tuesday
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Gardner (calf) returned to practice Tuesday, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
Gardner missed some practice time last week and sat out the Jets' second preseason game this past Saturday. The newly minted highest-paid cornerback is expected to be fine for New York's season opener against the Steelers on Sept. 7.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Becomes highest-paid corner
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The Jets and Gardner agreed to terms on a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
In back-to-back days, the Jets have locked in two of their first-round picks from the 2022 Draft after Garrett Wilson agreed to a four-year extension Monday. This deal for Gardner includes $85.653 million guaranteed, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, and also makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL in terms of average annual value. Through his first three pro seasons, Gardner has been a first-team All-Pro two times, though he does have only three interceptions among 41 pass defenses in 48 regular-season appearances. He'll continue to serve as a shut-down corner in New York's defense.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Present at minicamp
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Gardner is present for the Jets' mandatory minicamp, although he continues to seek a new contract, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Gardner is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and he's coming off a 2024 campaign in which he recorded 49 total tackles (36 solo), including 1.0 sacks, while also adding nine passes defensed with an interception over 15 regular-season games. The cornerback is considered to be among the best in the league, and with the Panthers' Jaycee Horn and the Texans' Derek Stingley resetting the cornerback market with new contracts this offseason, Gardner is looking to get similar compensation from the Jets.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Option officially picked up
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The Jets exercised Gardner's fifth-year option Wednesday.
Gardner has been one of the NFL's top cornerbacks since entering the league in 2022, so it's no surprise the Jets picked up his fifth-year option. The 24-year-old received first-team All-Pro honors in each of his first two seasons, tallying 132 total tackles, 31 passes defended, including two interceptions, and one forced fumble across 33 regular-season games during that span. Despite having the worst year of his career in 2024, Gardner is expected to bounce back and remain one of the league's best defensive playmakers in 2025.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Ruled out for season finale
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Gardner (hamstring) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
D.J. Reed, Brandin Echols and Isaiah Oliver should see the bulk of the snaps at cornerback for the Jets in the Week 18 finale. Gardner has been dealing with the hamstring injury for weeks and was in and out of the game in Weeks 16 and 17. The No. 4 overall pick of the 2022 Draft, Gardner wraps up a disappointing third season with 49 tackles (36 solo), including 1.0 sacks, and nine pass breakups, including one interception.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Begins Week 18 prep with DNP
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Gardner (hamstring) was listed as a non-participant in Wednesday's practice estimation, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
Gardner first hurt his hamstring Week 16 versus the Rams. He was able to suit up this past Sunday versus Buffalo but departed early in the third quarter after aggravating the issue and was unable to return. Considering the nature of hamstring injuries, Gardner is at risk of missing Sunday's season finale against the Dolphins. Brandin Echols would likely step in and start if Gardner can't suit up.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Ruled out for remainder of Week 17
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Gardner won't play for the remainder of Sunday's matchup against Buffalo due to a hamstring injury.
Gardner came into the weekend nursing a hamstring issue but was given the go-ahead to start against the Bills. However, the star cornerback appears to have aggravated the issue and was ruled out shortly after the start of the third quarter. Gardner finishes the contest with three tackles (all solo) and a defensed pass.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Could play Sunday
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Gardner (hamstring) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's matchup against the Bills, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
After exiting the Jets' Week 16 loss to the Rams with a hamstring injury, Gardner logged three consecutive DNPs during the team's week of practice. However, it still appears he has a chance to play in Sunday's divisional matchup. Gardner, a two-time All-Pro, would be a significant loss to the Jets' defense if he cannot play in Week 17. If sidelined, Qwan'tez Stiggers is expected to start opposite D.J. Reed as part of the Jets' top outside cornerback duo.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Exits game due to hamstring injury
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Gardner (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Rams.
Gardner injured his hamstring early in the third quarter of Sunday's game. Brandin Echols will likely take over at outside corner opposite D.J. Reed for as long as Gardner is sidelined.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Ruled out for Week 14
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Gardner (hamstring) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
Gardner was tagged as doubtful for Week 14 after being held out of practice all week due to a hamstring injury he suffered against the Seahawks in Week 13. With Gardner inactive Sunday, Brandin Echols will fill in as the Jets' second starting outside cornerback opposite D.J. Reed.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Doubtful against Dolphins
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Gardner (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Gardner is expected to sit out Week 14 after injuring his hamstring in this past Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. While the two-time All-Pro cornerback has had a disappointing third NFL season by his lofty standards, Gardner's absence will still leave New York's secondary more vulnerable against speedy Dolphins wideouts Tyreek Hill (wrist) and Jaylen Waddle.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Still tending to injury
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Gardner (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Gardner seems unlikely to play Sunday, as Cimini notes that head coach Jeff Ulbrich was not optimistic about the 24-year-old's chances. Considering the nature of hamstring injuries, it's likely the Jets will be cautious with their superstar corner, however, greater clarity on his status will likely come closer to their matchup with the Dolphins on Sunday.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Status is murky
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Gardner's status for Sunday's Week 14 matchup against the Dolphins is uncertain after he suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday's loss to the Seahawks, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Gardner appears in danger of missing Sunday's game against the Dolphins, although a firmer stance on his availability likely won't come until later in the week. In the meantime, his practice status in the days ahead will be worth monitoring.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Getting checked for head injury
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Gardner exited in the second half of Sunday's game against the Vikings to be evaluated for a head injury.
Gardner headed to the blue medical tent on the Jets' sideline after he collided with teammate Quincy Williams, according to Al Iannazzone of Newsday. If Gardner is determined to have suffered a concussion, he'll be ruled out for the remainder of the game and enter the league's five-step protocol.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Ruled out Sunday
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Gardner (concussion) was ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Eagles.
Gardner didn't participate in Friday's practice and had been listed as questionable for Week 6, but the Jets' decision to downgrade him implies that he wasn't on track to clear the five-step concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's game. With all of Gardner, D.J. Reed (concussion) and Brandin Echols (hamstring) and sidelined for Sunday, the Jets are likely to turn to Bryce Hall and Craig James as their starting outside cornerbacks, while Michael Carter mans the slot.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Leads league in passes defensed
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Gardner finished the 2022 season with 75 tackles (51 solo), two interceptions and a league-high 20 passes defensed.
Gardner's addition played a key role in New York's historic improvement on defense compared to last season, as the Jets went from 29.6 points allowed per game to 18.6. There's a strong argument that the fourth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft was the best cover corner in the league as a rookie considering Gardner led the NFL in passes defensed despite teams rarely throwing his way. Many a prominent wide receiver was "lost in the Sauce" in 2022, and that's likely to remain a common theme for years to come.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Leading tackler in Week 7 win
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Gardner had a team-high 10 tackles (nine solo) and three passes defensed in Sunday's 16-9 win over the Broncos.
Gardner locked down Courtland Sutton in man coverage for most of the afternoon, as Sutton finished the game with just three catches for 23 yards on nine targets. The most important of Gardner's pass breakups came on Denver's penultimate possession, as he denied a fourth-down pass to Sutton in the end zone. The rookie fourth overall pick set a new single-game career high in tackles as well, and Gardner has quickly blossomed into one of the league's premier players at his position.
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Jets' Sauce Gardner: Undergoing evaluation
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Gardner exited Sunday's game against the Packers to be evaluated for a head injury, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reports.
Gardner jogged to the locker room after a collision with one of Green Bay's wide receivers during the second half, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. With the Jets currently up 27-10 late in the fourth quarter, expect cornerback Michael Carter to likely finish out the remainder of this contest.
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Jets' Ahmad Gardner: Selected fourth overall by New York
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The Jets selected Gardner in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, fourth overall.
Gardner is a big corner out of Cincinnati, where his press-heavy style of lockdown coverage earned him comparisons to NFL great Richard Sherman. Gardner has unmatched reach at 6-foot-3 with 33.5-inch arms, and his 4.41-second combine 40 demonstrated long speed to recover if he gets beat at the line of scrimmage. The Jets pass defense should improve noticeably with this selection.
