Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner after a game on Oct. 21, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Star New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner unexpectedly landed on the team’s injury report for its Week 1 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Gardner was listed as a limited participant for the Jets on Wednesday, with the team citing a fibula injury. The Jets did not practice on Wednesday, according to a report by NFL Network, and instead submitted an estimated injury report.
Gardner said on Tuesday that “everything is good” with what previously had been called a calf injury.
“Ready to play on Sunday,” he said in a video posted to the team’s website.
Gardner played 12 snaps in the Jets’ preseason opener before sitting out the final two games.
A two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro, Gardner is the top player on the Jets roster entering the 2025 season. The No. 4 overall pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, he’s become a true lock-down cover cornerback and signed a $130 million contract extension with the team this offseason.
In the unlikely event that Gardner would miss the game or would miss time during the game, third-round rookie Azareye’h Thomas and 2024 fifth-round pick Qwan’tez Stiggers
Also listed as limited on the Jets injury report was backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, who is dealing with a knee injury. Listed as not practicing were former Steelers tackle Chuks Okorafor and guard Alijah Vera-Tucker.
Vera-Tucker is expected to miss the rest of the 2025 season with a triceps injury. He will be replaced by guard Xavier Newman-Johnson, or by moving one of center Joe Tippman (and playing backup center Josh Myers) or tackle Max Mitchell to guard.
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