The Indianapolis Colts’ difficult 2026 season continued against the Miami Dolphins. At 2–7 entering Sunday’s game, the Colts gave up a touchdown on a trick play—and a CBS broadcast graphic then appeared to credit cornerback Sauce Gardner for the score.
Miami’s quarterback threw a lateral to wide receiver Malik Washington, drawing Colts defenders toward him. That left Jalen Tolbert open in the end zone for an easy touchdown. As safety A.J. Haulcy left the field, CBS displayed the words “Touchdown Sauce Gardner,” suggesting Gardner had been beaten on the play.
The graphic did not match what happened. Gardner, wearing No. 1, was on the far side of the field and had little involvement in the play. He followed Washington as the receiver moved to take the lateral, but the touchdown came after the defense was drawn toward the ball. Safeties Cam Bynum and Haulcy appeared more directly involved in allowing Tolbert to get open.
## The Gardner trade looks increasingly costly for Indianapolis
The mistaken graphic highlighted a difficult stretch for the Colts and renewed scrutiny of their decision to acquire Gardner. Indianapolis made the trade last November, sending the New York Jets two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell.
At the time, the Colts were 7–2 and looked like one of the AFC’s stronger teams. The move was intended to add a shutdown corner and help push the team to another level. Gardner had been among the NFL’s top cornerbacks in his first two seasons, but his recent performance has not matched that early form.
Gardner has three career interceptions and has yet to record one with Indianapolis. His pass deflections have also declined. Meanwhile, the Colts have traded away several players over the past month and appear to be entering a period of transition, making the price paid for Gardner harder to overlook.
Gardner was not responsible for Miami’s trick-play touchdown, despite the CBS graphic. Still, the on-screen mix-up underscored the frustration surrounding Indianapolis’s season and the high cost of the trade.
