(Photo credit: Lisi Niesner/Reuters via Imagn Images)

Indianapolis Colts cornerback Sauce Gardner exited after two defensive snaps with a left calf injury in the 20-16 home loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday.

'Felt like I got shot in the calf or something,' Gardner said after the game. 'But it was high. I wasn't thinking the worst.

Gardner, 25, hobbled away from a pass completion on Houston's second play from scrimmage.

'I think it's a strain,' he said. 'I don't think it's an Achilles or nothing like that.'

Colts coach Shane Steichen said he didn't have any details but, 'All I know is it's a calf right now.'

Houston led 3-0 after the first quarter when Indianapolis officially ruled Gardner out for the remainder of the game. He returned to the sideline with a walking boot on his left foot.

Gardner went to the locker room with each arm draped over the shoulder of medical staff as the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback was unable to put weight on his left leg.

Gardner was acquired from the New York Jets on Nov. 4 in a trade deadline deal that cost Indianapolis two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.

The Jets selected Gardner with the fourth overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, and he went on to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award with 75 tackles, two interceptions and a league-leading 20 passes defensed in 17 games (all starts).

He was first-team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Gardner played seven games for the Jets this season before missing time due to a concussion, and Sunday was his third game with the Colts.

Since adding Gardner, the Colts led the NFL in percentage of snaps in man-to-man coverage entering Sunday's games, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

Indianapolis (8-4) visits Jacksonville (8-4) next Sunday in a game between the co-leaders of the AFC South.

--Field Level Media