Update on Sauce Gardner's injury following his absence from the Jets' joint practice with the Giants
New York Jets' Sauce Gardner Dealing with Calf Injury Ahead of 2025 Season
The New York Jets, neighbours and rivals at MetLife Stadium with the New York Giants, held a joint practice this week as both teams prepare for the upcoming 2025 NFL season. However, one of the key members of the Jets' defensive unit, cornerback Sauce Gardner, has been dealing with a calf injury.
Gardner, who had one of the quickest rises to stardom for a defensive back in recent memory, has been managing a minor but nagging calf injury going into the 2025 season. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported on Gardner's calf soreness, which has kept him out of preseason games and limited his practice time.
The Jets' head coach, Aaron Glenn, confirmed that Gardner was sidelined from joint practices and at least one preseason game due to calf soreness. He showed signs of aggravating the injury during practice on August 19, 2025, limping off briefly but continuing to work with trainers.
Despite the injuries, the Jets are optimistic since Gardner has avoided any severe calf damage so far and are managing him carefully. The injury is not considered serious according to the latest updates, but calf issues can linger and be tricky, so the Jets seem to be playing it safe to ensure Gardner is ready for the regular season opener.
The New York Jets' first game of the 2025 season will be at 1:00 PM ET from the Meadowlands, where they will face Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Rodgers joined the Steelers in free agency this offseason, after parting ways with the Jets.
The Jets could have one of the more talented defensive units in the NFL, with Gardner being a key contributor. Despite his injury, the Jets are optimistic about his return to All-Pro form after a less dominant 2024 season. The cautious management of Gardner's injury reflects the Jets' high hopes for his bounce-back 2025 season.
The Jets also made a move to acquire Justin Fields, a young quarterback with a lot of talent who has yet to fully excel at the NFL level, from the Steelers in a quasi-trade. This could make the Jets a sleeper team to at least make some noise in the AFC this year.
The practice between the Jets and Giants was held as both teams prepare for the upcoming season, with the Jets looking to bounce back from a less dominant 2024 and make a push for the playoffs in 2025. Gardner's injury status is currently being evaluated, and the Jets will continue to manage him carefully to ensure he is ready for the regular season opener.
[1] Rosenblatt, Z. (2025, August 15). Sauce Gardner dealing with calf soreness, held out of joint practices. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2662804/2025/08/15/sauce-gardner-dealing-with-calf-soreness-held-out-of-joint-practices/
[2] Sullivan, M. (2025, August 19). Sauce Gardner limps off during practice, but continues to work with trainers. Retrieved from https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35418341/sauce-gardner-limps-off-during-practice-continues-work-trainers
[3] McManus, R. (2025, August 20). Jets' Sauce Gardner sidelined from joint practices, out of preseason game due to calf soreness. Retrieved from https://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/ny-jets-sauce-gardner-calf-soreness-20250820-qc4r77q75ndh77z6kjb57x63yq-story.html
[4] Cohen, D. (2025, August 25). Jets' Sauce Gardner expected to make "bounce-back" 2025 season after less dominant 2024. Retrieved from https://www.nj.com/giants/2025/08/jets-sauce-gardner-expected-to-make-bounce-back-2025-season-after-less-dominant-2024.html
- sauce Gardner's calf injury might impact his performance in the upcoming championship season of American-football, which involves the NFL and teams like the New York Jets.
- Despite his calf issues, the Jets are optimistic about Gardner's potential to regain his All-Pro form in the 2025 football season, as they are managing his injury carefully.
- With Sauce Gardner's injury status under evaluation, the Jets are proceeding cautiously to ensure his readiness for the regular season opener in sports, where they will face the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers.
