The Jacksonville Jaguars took care of business when they trounced the Tennessee Titans 25-3 in Week 13. They're tied with the Indianapolis Colts for the top spot in the AFC South. And since these two rival teams will play each other next, the Jags will have a prime opportunity to seize sole control of the division.
Working in Jacksonville's favor is that the Colts are struggling at the worst possible time. After winning seven of their first eight games, they've now gone 1-3 the past four weeks, with their latest loss coming to the Houston Texans.
Compounding the issue is that quarterback Daniel Jones is dealing with a broken fibula that has hindered his production in recent weeks. And if that wasn't enough, Indy just lost one of its top defenders in the loss to the Texans.
The Colts will be without Sauce Gardner when they play the Jaguars
Early in the Houston game, Sauce Gardner began to limp even though he wasn't hit. He had to be helped off the field, first to the medical tent and later to the locker room. By now, you can tell that things didn't look good for the former Cincinnati Bobcat. He eventually returned to the sidelines with a walking boot. And in the aftermath of the loss, the Colts got a discouraging update.
Being helped off the field. No weight on left leg. https://t.co/uDQipx3bOW
— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) November 30, 2025
Following the game, Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported that Gardner is believed to have suffered a calf strain, noting that those kind of injuries tend to be tricky, so the fourth-year cornerback will undergo more tests. The silver lining is that his Achilles appears to be intact. Nevertheless, the injury puts his availability for Week 14 in question.
Colts CB Sauce Gardner is believed to have suffered a calf strain, per sources.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 30, 2025
Those can be tricky injuries and he’ll have more tests. But Gardner’s Achilles appears intact, so there’s optimism he avoided a major injury. pic.twitter.com/5NrT1kX8Rq
Now, it's hard to tell when Gardner will be back, but he'll probably miss the Jaguars game. If that's the case, that will be a big blow for an Indy team that will already be without All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
The fourth overall pick in 2022, Gardner quickly became a shutdown corner with the New York Jets, earning a First-Team All-Pro designation and making the Pro Bowl in each of the past two seasons. However, a new regime took over in 2025, and he didn't appear to fit its long-term vision, so he got traded to the Colts in exchange for two first-round selections and receiver Adonai Mitchell.
Although Gardner is one of the top corners in the NFL, injuries limited him to just three games in Colts uniform.
Related: 4 critical observations from the Jags' win vs. the Titans
The Jaguars suddenly have a great matchup vs. the Colts without Sauce Gardner
Make no mistake, it's never pleasant to see players get hurt, but teams are aware that the show must go on and must be prepared in case the injury bug strikes. Such will be the case for the Colts if Sauce Gardner misses significant playing time. On the other hand, the Jaguars are quickly becoming the favorite to come out on top in Week 13.
Leaving aside that Daniel Jones is injured, and Sauce Gardner may not play, the Colts haven't won a game at EverBank Stadium, and that's where the game against Jacksonville in Week 13 will take place.
Granted, the Jaguars cannot afford to overlook the Colts, but they'll have several things going in their favor in Week 13. It will be up to them to take advantage of the opportunity they'll have to seize the No. 1 spot in the AFC South.