‘I’m the first-round pick two times’

Selected fourth total in the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jets, Gardner was an on the spot success story, profitable AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and incomes All-Pro and Pro Bowl choice in every of his first two seasons.

Having garnered a massive second contract on a rebuilding Gang Green membership, Gardner was shipped to the Colts final season for a large haul of two first-rounders.

He performed simply three video games for the Colts earlier than his calf troubled him, returned for Week 17 and aggravated it. Gardner has a shocking clarification for the damage: Karma. But nothing to do with something controversial or incendiary.

“When it happened, there was something I did that I shouldn’t have done,” Gardner mentioned. “Not a huge deal, but I had just picked up a phone call I shouldn’t have picked up, and then the next day that happened. I’m dead seriously, that is truly I feel why I got injured. I picked up a phone call I shouldn’t have answered. It was unfortunate, but I know how I’ve gotta live and the decisions I’ve got to make now.”

Cryptic and complicated as the CB’s sorta clarification is, most vital for Colts followers is that Gardner mentioned he is all good to go now.

“I’m definitely totally healthy,” he mentioned.

In physique and spirit, it will appear, which bodes properly for Indy as one in every of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks, no matter what occurs Thursday, might properly show his value in the Sundays to return.