Sauce Gardner Says He Gave 'Unacceptable' Effort in Colts' Win vs. Commanders

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner owned up to his poor showing in the team's 30-13 win over the Washington Commanders in Week 4.

Gardner told reporters Wednesday that his effort level was "unacceptable" and "an embarrassing watch."

Commanders quarterbacks Athan Kaliakmanis and Marcus Mariota combined to throw for 217 yards and one touchdown. Kaliakmanis, who replaced an injured Mariota, went 15-of-33 through the air.

It's not like Washington lit up the Colts secondary for 60 minutes.

But Gardner got beat deep on a couple of throws. Kaliakmanis hit Treylon Burks for a 47-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and then found Dyami Brown for a 48-yard completion on the next drive.

According to Pro Football Reference, Gardner was targeted seven times and allowed 104 yards on three completions. Those numbers don't reflect the totality of his performance, either.

Antonio Williams' 87-yard touchdown reception was wiped off the board, but that doesn't let Gardner off the hook for a poor pursuit angle and a general lack of effort in trying to chase down the rookie wideout.

Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo came to Gardner's defense somewhat.

"Does Sauce want those couple of plays back? Sure," he said, per the Indianapolis Star's Nathan Brown. "But is it all on Sauce on those particular plays? No."

Anarumo went on to say Burks' touchdown catch was somewhat fluky and partially the result of good fortune for Washington.

"It was a very, very unusual play, because you had a rookie quarterback and a receiver kind of not on the same page — one expecting the back shoulder (throw), and the other one not throwing it," he said.

Gardner is going to be scrutinized closely in every single game he plays for the Colts given the cost to acquire him. Indianapolis sent two first-round picks to the New York Jets and assumed the four-year, $120 million extension the two-time All-Pro signed with his old team.

Roughly a year on, the Colts don't look like winners from the blockbuster deal.

Even elite stars can experience a game to forget. In the case of Gardner, his showing in Week 4 was part of a larger, more concerning pattern.