New York Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner did little to quiet criticism that hes regressed this season after struggling mightily during a brutal three-play sequence.
On Halloween night, The Jets hosted the Houston Texans in a Thursday Night Football matchup that featured sloppy play from the get-go. But it was Gardners miscues in the first half that specifically drew the ire of fans.
With just over nine minutes remaining in the second quarter, Texans quarterback C. J. Stroud rolled away from a defender and connected with tight end Dalton Schultz, who reeled in the pass with one hand. As Gardner went in to make the tackle, he was forcefully stiff armed twice into the ground – allowing a completion that shouldve gone for no gain to become a 7-yard play.
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One play later, Gardners name once again came up for all the wrong reasons. After rolling out of a collapsing pocket, Stroud searched for an open target downfield and delivered a strike to Robert Woods.
The veteran wideout was able to reel in the pass and get both feet in bounds on the 32-yard completion – despite Gardners halfhearted attempt to swat the ball before it could get home.
Later on in the drive, Gardner was beat off the line of scrimmage by wide receiver John Metchie III. In an attempt to limit the damage, the defensive back grabbed hold of his arm – but soon lost his footing and slammed hard to the turf.
Officials promptly threw a flag for defensive holding, providing the Texans with five yards and a fresh set of downs. Gardner, meanwhile, was shaken up from the fall as trainers escorted him off the field – though he was able to return to the game soon after.
Since being selected with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Gardner has cemented himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Through his first two seasons, he was named the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, a two-time First-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler.
Yet Gardner has failed to meet his incredibly high expectations in the 2024-25 campaign, at times hardly looking like his former dominant self. Through the first eight weeks of the season, he recorded the worst tackling grade and the highest missed tackling percentage of his decorated career, per Pro Football Focus.
On the heels of the Jets gut-wrenching 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots, interim coach Jeff Ulbrich conceded that Gardners tackling was an area of concern. In all honesty, and weve had this conversation, it needs to be better, he told reporters on Tuesday.
And he knows that. I really felt like there was an improvement this past game. If you really watch this last game with a critical eye as far as his tackling is concerned, I felt like the intent to be physical was better than its been.
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