Ryan Clark Exposes Sauce Gardner’s Surprising Weakness—What Every Fan Needs to Know!

So, here’s a kicker for you: can a lockdown cornerback really earn his stripes if he’s more “almost had it” than “got it” when it comes to snagging interceptions? Sauce Gardner’s showing us just that dilemma. The Colts got a peek at the full Sauce experience recently—three quarters deep into his debut, he nearly flipped the script with a clutch interception, only to have the ball bounce right off his fingertips. It’s a moment that’s got folks buzzing, including former NFL stalwart Ryan Clark, who didn’t hold back calling out Gardner’s biggest flaw: stellar coverage paired with shaky ball skills. But hey, isn’t football full of these “almost” moments? Gardner’s disruption in coverage is undeniable, even if the turnovers aren’t piling up. So, what’s the real cost of those missed chances? And can the Colts ride this intriguing mix all the way to victory? Let’s dig in.

BERLIN, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 09: Camryn Bynum and Sauce Gardner of Indianapolis Colts celebrate during the NFL 2025 game between Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts at Olympiastadion on November 09, 2025 in Berlin, Germany. — (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

The Indianapolis Colts just got a glimpse of the full Sauce Gardner experience. Just three quarters into his debut, the Cincinnati product had an opportunity to make a game-changing play. Instead, he went home empty-handed.

Following a fumble recovery by the Atlanta Falcons, the former New York Jets star nearly gave his team the ball back with an interception. Instead, the ball bounced right off his fingers.

With that in mind, former NFL player Ryan Clark took to X to point out his biggest issue with Gardner. As good a player as he is as a stopper, he doesn’t have good ball skills:

“That’s Sauce’s biggest issue in my opinion. Great in coverage but doesn’t catch the ball. Difference in the very good & the Canton good,” Clark posted on X.

That’s Sauce’s biggest issue in my opinion. Great in coverage but doesn’t catch the ball. Difference in the very good & the Canton good!

— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 9, 2025

It’s been literally years since Gardner’s last interception. Even some Jets fans started talking about him being overrated, and they were impressed to watch how much the Colts were willing to give up to get him.

Of course, that’s not fair, either. There’s much more to being a good defensive back or a shutdown cornerback than just creating turnovers. Granted, that’s what separates the good from the greats, but it’s hard to argue that Gardner is one of the best players at the position right now.

He’s a disruptive player who can alter most throws. It would clearly be better if he could come down with the ball more often, especially when he has a big chance to make a play, but still.

The Colts are for real, and they believe they can compete for years to come. That’s the type of move you make when you feel like you’re inching closer to the ultimate goal.

The post Ryan Clark Reveals Sauce Gardner’s ‘Biggest Issue’ appeared first on The Cold Wire.