INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts have lost their top two cornerbacks to injury in the second half of Sunday’s game against the Miami Dolphins.
The injury history of both Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward makes both reports concerning.
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Ward, who has been in and out of the lineup due to a series of injuries during his two seasons in Indianapolis, suffered a shin injury in the third quarter and has not returned.
Ward suffered three concussions in his first season in Indianapolis after signing a three-year deal worth up to $54 million to be the team’s No. 1 cornerback. Ward missed time due to a back injury in training camp, a groin injury suffered against Kansas City and now the shin injury.
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See the fans, game action as Colts take on Dolphins in NFL Week 10
Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens (21) and Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan (20) jog onto the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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See the fans, game action as Colts take on Dolphins in NFL Week 10
Indianapolis Colts running back DJ Giddens (21) and Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan (20) jog onto the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) talks to teammates on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Grover Stewart (90) hugs Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin (16) stretches on the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (12) walks up the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (13) runs drills Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts tight end Drew Ogletree (85) catches a ball from a fan on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (12) and Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (13) walk on to the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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See the fans, game action as Colts take on Dolphins in NFL Week 10
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Laquon Treadwell (13) walks on to the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones (17) passes the ball Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan (20) walks onto the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor (28) talks to Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Quez Watkins (9) on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
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See the fans, game action as Colts take on Dolphins in NFL Week 10
Indianapolis Colts tight end Drew Ogletree (85) walks up the field Sunday, Nov. 15, 2026, ahead of the game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
(Grace Hollars/IndyStar)
Gardner’s injury was, again, to his calf; he’s dealt with ongoing issues to that part of his leg.
Indianapolis traded two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to land Gardner at the trade deadline a year ago. Gardner made two starts for the Colts, then suffered a calf injury that kept him out of the lineup for all but one game the rest of the way.
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When he returned for the 2026 season, Gardner was optimistic that he’d put the calf issues behind him.
But Gardner suffered another calf injury in the team’s loss to the Titans and missed a game. Gardner was optimistic at the time because the point of the strain was in a different part of his calf muscle, but he missed a game due to the injury.
It is unclear if the calf injury Gardner suffered against Miami on Sunday is the same leg, but if it is, there are significant concerns moving forward for a player who is under contract in Indianapolis long-term.
With Gardner and Ward out, the Colts are playing Justin Walley and Kenneth Harris on the outside, along with Kapena Gushiken in the slot.
