Sauce Gardner's clothes weren't even in Indianapolis, much less in his suitcase in Berlin.
On Tuesday morning, he was sitting in New Jersey watching film on the Cleveland Browns. On Tuesday evening, he was on a plane to Indianapolis. On Wednesday morning, he was in meetings breaking down film on the Atlanta Falcons and meeting his new teammates.
On Thursday evening, he was on a plane to Berlin. On Sunday, he was a part of a thrilling overtime win that also happened to be the first win he experienced this season.
The 25-year-old cornerback has had quite the week.
"I'm going to be honest, it was a tough week for me," Gardner said on Sunday after the Colts' 31-25 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons at Olympic Stadium in Berlin. "Mentally, just trying to learn all the plays. I started watching tape on Cleveland, then already had to switch and watch tape on Atlanta, and that's besides having to hurry up and fly to Indy and then hurry up and fly to Berlin, so it was tough. But football is football. When I got out there, i wanted the guys to just be able to trust that i know what I'm doing, so I put in extra work."
The Colts acquired Gardner, a two-time All-Pro, in a blockbuster trade with the New York Jets on Tuesday, and his arrival in Indianapolis lit a spark in a Colts locker room that already seemed like it couldn't get any brighter.
"He just elevated the entire room," veteran cornerback Kenny Moore II said. "He's impressive, how he was able to adjust to everything that we had going into the game plan."
During Gardner's first walkthrough with the Colts on Wednesday, he made a point to tell his teammates not to slow down for him – he wanted to catch up with them, not the other way around. He came in ready to contribute, fully aware of their goals both in the short term (beat the Falcons) and long term (win in the playoffs). Gardner, personally, also wanted to get a win; since he was inactive with a concussion for the Jets' lone win of the season in Week 8, he hadn't yet experienced a happy locker room in 2025.
That changed on Sunday, of course, as running back Jonathan Taylor scored three touchdowns and set a franchise record as he led the Colts to victory. But just as important to the win was the performance of the defense – and Gardner, in his Colts debut, was able to show his value to his new team.
First, the obvious: in the third quarter, with the Falcons up 17-13 and looking to extend their lead, Gardner baited Michael Penix Jr. and read his pass perfectly to record a crucial pass breakup and force a punt. And it was nearly an interception, showing a hint of what Gardner is fully capable of.
"I was trying to bait the quarterback," Gardner said. "We brought some pressure, so I think everything played in my favor. I just gotta look the ball in and catch the ball first and not think about pick-sixing it...it was a great third-down play, but that's one I've got to have, and that's one I will have next time."
And when he traveled with wide receiver Drake London (who averages almost seven receptions and 84 yards per game), Gardner held the Falcons' WR1 to just two catches for 26 yards. London was able to get away from Gardner for a successful two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter after the cornerback lost his footing, but kicker Michael Badgley came through with the game-tying field goal to send the game to overtime.
Gardner, though, felt sick to his stomach even as he watched the ball go through the uprights. He knew it would have been the game-winner if he didn't slip, and just like the rest of the Colts have done all season, he wasn't afraid to own up to his mistakes.
"I was like, that's on me," Gardner said. "So I made sure I'm not going to slip no more, and coverage got real sticky for us to get the ball back to our offense."
But Gardner's presence was felt even more when he was away from the ball; much of the conversation around Gardner when he joined the Colts was how his elite coverage skills would help the pass rush get to the quarterback, and that was evident on Sunday.
The Colts defense as a whole held Penix to a season-low 42 percent completion rate, held the Falcons to 0-of-8 on third down and allowed just 290 total yards of offense. The pass rush was able to make a big impact even without defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, recording three sacks and coming up with crucial quarterback hits and pressures, especially in the fourth quarter and overtime.
And because of the Colts' defensive stand, and how he was able to rally in overtime to help his new team win, the Colts' victory on Sunday means even more to Gardner.
"That was the first time that I've been in a locker room that electric this year after a game," he said. "Because that was my first win I've been a part of this year."
But, just like the rest of his teammates, Gardner knows he can play better and do more – that's part of the reason he was able to blend so seamlessly with the rest of the locker room. So, while his immediate focus for the Colts' upcoming bye week is getting the rest of his clothes and belongings to Indianapolis, you can be sure he's also already thinking about how he can keep improving and come back from the bye even more in tune with his new team.