Sauce Gardner loved enjoying for the New York Jets.
He appears equally content material in his new dwelling, Indianapolis.
Two days after a blockbuster commerce that despatched the two-time All-Professional cornerback from the franchise that drafted him to the AFC South-leading Colts, Gardner spoke publicly in regards to the deal for the primary time on Thursday.
Gardner has additionally cleared the concussion protocol, paving the way in which for him to make his Colts debut Sunday in Berlin in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Colts later dominated out DeForest Buckner after deciding that the star defensive deal with wouldn’t journey with the crew due to a neck harm.
Buckner, who has been the centerpiece of the protection this season, has 4 sacks.
Gardner was as shocked as anybody about his transfer from one of many NFL’s worst groups to one among its finest.
“I am not going to lie, I did not even have time to course of all of it the way in which,” he stated. “I simply knew like I used to be coming into a terrific state of affairs. The very first thing I am pondering is I am again with my boy [Colts receiver] Alec [Pierce]. They’re successful proper now, so, like, what can I add. However on the identical time, I did not don’t have any time [to think about it]. That is simply a part of the enterprise.”
The flurry of exercise by the Jets caught many off-guard.
Together with Gardner, the struggling franchise despatched defensive deal with Quinnen Williams to the Dallas Cowboys. Williams’ brother, Quincy, an All-Professional defensive deal with in 2023 who was the topic of commerce rumors earlier than Tuesday’s deadline, additionally stated Wednesday he had misplaced his beginning job with New York.
In the meantime, Jets operating again Breece Corridor denied stories that he requested a commerce, and Gardner made it clear he didn’t speak to New York’s decision-makers about being traded earlier than the deal was made.
Nonetheless, he had nothing unhealthy to say in regards to the Jets, who gave him a four-year, $120 million contract extension in July.
“I loved my time in New York,” he stated. “I simply wish to give a shoutout to the blokes that have been there that drafted me, and the blokes that was there, clearly, after I obtained my extension and every little thing like that, and my teammates who I went via a lot with.”
The Colts gave up receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round draft picks to get one of many league’s premier cowl cornerbacks. Gardner was chosen to the Professional Bowl in every of his first two seasons with New York, and although he hasn’t performed as nicely final season or this 12 months, a contemporary begin with a special protection may assist him return to his All-Professional kind.
It hasn’t taken Gardner lengthy to make an impression on his new teammates and coaches.
“He is already one of many guys. You’ll have thought he is been right here for a 12 months,” defensive backs coach Jerome Henderson stated. “The way in which he communicates in walk-throughs and the way in which guys speak to him on the sphere, it is like he is already becoming in and assimilating.”
Gardner could not be happier to be in Indy, both.
He went from the Jets (1-7), a contender for subsequent 12 months’s No. 1 draft decide, to the Colts (7-2), who seem poised to snap a four-year playoff drought. Gardner has but to play within the postseason.
The Colts hope Gardner, the No. 4 choice within the 2022 draft, will solidify their most obtrusive weak point — a go protection ranked within the backside quarter of the league.
Indy anticipated higher outcomes when normal supervisor Chris Ballard invested closely in two free brokers, Professional Bowl cornerback Charvarius Ward and security Cam Bynum. However accidents have decimated the Colts’ secondary.
Indy misplaced two promising rookies with season-ending accidents in coaching camp, and cornerback Jaylon Jones landed on injured reserve one sport into the season. Professional Bowl cornerback Kenny Moore II additionally missed time with an Achilles tendon harm, although he has returned, and two-time league interceptions champ Xavien Howard’s tried comeback ended together with his retirement after simply 4 video games. Ward is on injured reserve recovering from a concussion.
When Ward returns, the Colts’ high three cornerbacks would all have Professional Bowl résumés.
“It is a terrific group of men already right here, and that is what makes it much more particular,” Gardner stated. “Dominant offense, dominant protection. I am simply grateful to be part of one thing particular that they have been already constructing right here. I look to only add quite a bit on and off the sphere right here.”
ESPN’s Stephen Holder and The Related Press contributed to this report.