Sauce Gardner was a full participant in his first practice as a Colts cornerback on Wednesday, but still remains in concussion protocol. He must be fully cleared in order to make his Colts debut against the Atlanta Falcons this weekend in Berlin.
Gardner sustained a concussion during the New York Jets' Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers and did not play in their Week 8 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Jets were on a bye in Week 9, so when the Colts acquired Gardner on Tuesday, he had not yet had a chance to clear the protocol.
"He's in the protocol right now, so hopefully he'll clear that soon," Shane Steichen said Wednesday. "And obviously we'll see how he picks up the playbook and we'll go from there."
If Gardner clears the protocol, he is expected to start alongside Kenny Moore II and Jaylon Jones against the Falcons. Charvarius Ward Sr. (concussion) remains on injured reserve; the earliest he can return is Week 12.
Anthony Gould (knee), Tyquan Lewis (groin) and Samson Ebukam (knee) were among players who did not participate in Wednesday's practice; Ebukam and Lewis have missed two consecutive games due to their injuries and Gould did not play in Week 9.
Wednesday's practice report:
