The Indianapolis Colts have suffered two significant injury setbacks ahead of their Week 7 NFL matchup against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings, with cornerback Sauce Gardner and tight end Tyler Warren both ruled out for Sunday’s contest.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Gardner is dealing with a calf injury, while Warren continues to recover from a groin issue. Their absences come at a challenging time for Indianapolis, which is looking to turn its season around against one of the league’s unbeaten teams.
Colts HC Shane Steichen ruled out CB Sauce Gardner (calf) and TE Tyler Warren (groin) for Sunday’s game vs. the Vikings.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 23, 2026
The Colts enter Week 7 with a 2-4 record, while Minnesota sits at 5-0 heading into Sunday’s showdown.
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Gardner sidelined with calf injury
Gardner, 25, sustained his calf injury during Indianapolis’ Week 6 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The issue involves the same calf he injured last season, although the cornerback has indicated that the latest setback is not as serious as his previous injury.
The defensive back has appeared in all six games for the Colts this season, recording 17 total tackles, including 13 solo tackles.
His absence represents a significant concern for Indianapolis as it prepares to face Minnesota’s offence. Gardner has been a regular presence in the secondary, and the Colts will need other defensive backs to step up against a Vikings team that has yet to lose this season.
The team will hope Gardner can return to the lineup once he has recovered sufficiently from the injury.
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Warren set to miss second straight game
Warren will also be unavailable against Minnesota, marking his second consecutive absence after suffering a groin injury during practice last week.
The 24-year-old tight end missed Indianapolis’ Week 6 matchup against Tennessee and has now been ruled out for another important contest.
Warren has been one of the Colts’ most productive offensive players this season. He leads the team with 30 receptions and ranks third in receiving yards with 213. He has also recorded three touchdowns, making his absence a notable blow to Indianapolis’ passing attack.
The Colts will need other receiving options to help fill the void while Warren continues his recovery.
With both players unavailable, Indianapolis faces an uphill challenge against a Minnesota team that has won its first five games of the 2026 campaign.
Sunday’s matchup in Minnesota will provide another important test for the Colts as they look to get their season back on track and avoid falling further behind in the standings.
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