Sauce Gardner practices fully, cleared for Jets’ game vs. Bills after groin scare
Cornerback was limited Thursday with a groin issue but took part in a full practice Friday and has no injury designation for Sunday
Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner practiced fully Friday and is not carrying an injury designation for Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills after being limited Thursday with a groin injury, the team said Friday.
Gardner, who suffered the groin issue during Thursday’s practice, had been a concern after missing time in training camp and the preseason with calf and fibula injuries. He said the Week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers was the most football he has played in a while, and the added workload left him with soreness in the groin.
Gardner returned from those offseason issues to post a standout performance in Week 1, his first game since signing a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. He shadowed Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf for much of the game, lining up against Metcalf on 30 of 34 passing plays and allowing only one reception, an 11-yarder. Pro Football Focus gave Gardner a 90.3 overall grade for the outing, the highest among cornerbacks around the league last week.
The Jets will rely on Gardner to slow Buffalo’s high-powered passing attack led by quarterback Josh Allen. Gardner is expected to match up primarily with Keon Coleman, who had eight catches for 112 yards and a touchdown in Buffalo’s Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
New York also received mixed injury news elsewhere on the depth chart. Defensive tackle Ed Oliver was ruled out for Sunday with an ankle injury; Oliver recorded six tackles, three for loss, and a sack in Week 1. Defensive lineman Jay Tufele was sidelined by illness, and running back and returner Kene Nwangwu was ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Running back Breece Hall, whose miscommunication with the offensive line contributed to the Jets gaining a combined 12 yards on their final two drives last week, said the issue has been addressed. "We try to come off the field and communicate what we’re seeing," Hall said. "As a running back, we’re the adjuster off of what the O-line wants to do. We try to be really adamant, letting them know ‘whatever you guys are most comfortable with, just make sure you communicate to us because we want to be human eraser for you guys.’ One game in, we fixed what we needed to get fixed, so we’ll be fine."
The availability of Gardner removes a significant question mark for the Jets’ secondary ahead of a divisional matchup that could hinge on pass coverage and pressure on Allen. New York’s ability to contain Buffalo’s receivers and limit big plays will be central to the game plan, and Gardner’s presence will allow the Jets to deploy their coverage schemes without a last-minute change.
Coach Robert Saleh and his staff will finalize the game-day roster and defensive alignments before kickoff, but Friday’s practice report offered a boost to the Jets’ plans as they prepare to face one of the AFC’s top offenses.