The Colts on Friday ruled out cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf) and tight end Will Mallory (lung) for their Week 18 game against the Houston Texans, head coach Shane Steichen said.
Gardner exited the Colts' Week 17 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with a calf injury, that the Colts later said was tightness in the same calf Gardner had injured in Week 13. Gardner missed Weeks 14-16 due to that injury, and Steichen said they elected to hold the All-Pro cornerback out of most of the second half of Week 17 out of precaution so Gardner didn't further re-aggravate the injury.
Gardner did not participate in any Week 18 practices.
Mallory, who was active for just his second game of the season against the Jaguars, did not practice this week due to a lung injury.
Steichen said center Tanor Bortolini, who missed Week 17 due to a concussion, has cleared concussion protocol.
As a reminder, last Saturday the Colts placed tight end Drew Ogletree, wide receiver Anthony Gould and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner on injured reserve.
