Sauce Gardner Reacts to Captain Selection

Sauce Gardner expressed some disappointment about not being named a captain among his Jets teammates last week.

Defensive captains selected were Jamien Sherwood and Quinnen Williams, while Alijah Vera-Tucker, Garrett Wilson, and Justin Fields were chosen to lead the offense. Marcelino McCrary-Ball was selected for special teams.

Gardner acknowledged that the offense had three captains, with Wilson and Vera-Tucker getting votes, which he found a bit troubling. However, he didn’t dwell on it for long.

“I felt that way,” Gardner stated. “I mean, three for the offense? We could definitely have done the same for defense. But honestly, it won’t change how I play or how I lead the team. It’s not something I’m really worried about.”

In July, Gardner signed a substantial four-year, $120 million contract extension, expressing his desire to step up as a team leader. He also mentioned that being a captain is something he aspires to achieve in his career.

“That’s definitely a goal of mine at some point,” he reflected. “You don’t often see cornerbacks becoming captains.”

Having recently dealt with calf injuries, Gardner confirmed he is now fully healthy and prepared to face the Steelers on Sunday.

The Jets haven’t released an injury report yet, but they seem to be in good shape overall. Aside from backup tackle Chukkumaokorafo, all players participated in the Tuesday training session open to media.

John Simpson, the left guard, had a brief stint on the sidelines due to a back issue, but he shared that he’s back on track now.

“It feels good,” Simpson remarked. “I took some time off to regroup, and now I’m ready to go.”

Coach Aaron Glenn also weighed in on what he views as a successful season. He stated, “I want our fans to feel proud of this team. If they can say that, I’ll be satisfied. A victory goes hand in hand with that.”