Jets Rumors: Sauce Gardner's Status for Dolphins Game TBD Due to Hamstring Injury

The New York Jets are already in the midst of a disastrous season, and they could be without one of their best defensive players in next Sunday's AFC East matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, star cornerback Sauce Gardner's status for the game is "up in the air" due to a hamstring injury.

Gardner suffered the injury as the Jets fell to 3-9 with Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but he had one of his best games of the season prior to exiting. He had three tackles and two passes defended, doing a stellar job of helping to limit Seattle's talented receiver trio of Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett to under 100 yards apiece.

Since entering the NFL as the No. 4 pick in the 2022 draft, Gardner has missed only one game for the Jets. He earned first-team All-Pro honors in his first two seasons, but he hasn't performed at that level this year amid New York's struggles.

The Jets' defense has suffered mightily since head coach Robert Saleh was fired and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was promoted to interim head coach. The team has allowed over 25 points in five out of its seven games with Ulbrich at the helm, compiling a 1-6 record over that span.

The string of disappointments this year will likely extend New York's playoff drought to 14 straight seasons, the longest active streak in the NFL, NBA, NHL or MLB. Gardner's injury will only add to the abysmal year as the Jets trudge toward an offseason where they will be in store for significant changes.