TNF Matchup: Will Browns' WR1 Put Damper on Sauce Gardner's Special Sophomore Season?

There hasn't been a more impressive start to a career than what Sauce Gardner has done in a New York Jets' uniform. 

After becoming the first rookie cornerback to be named a First-Team All-Pro player since Ronnie Lott in 1981, Gardner has arguably been even better in his sophomore season. 

Through 16 games, the Cincinnati product is second in the league in catches allowed, passer rating allowed, tops in the league in yards after catch allowed, and targets.

There simply has been no one better than Gardner through his first two years in the NFL — even with the low interception totals. 

"He’s very locked in," said Jets' head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday in Florham Park. "He’s very focused and I kind of compare it to ‘Sherm’ [Richard Sherman]. When we want to coach Richard Sherman, you can get bored out there, when teams are just deliberately trying to avoid you. So, he’s locked down that left side of the field and he’s earned that right."

Gardner has done a good job against some of the top receivers in football like Stefon Diggs, and Davante Adams. On Thursday, he'll have to go up against arguably the hottest receiver in the game — Amari Cooper. 

Last week against the Houston Texans, Cooper recorded 11 catches for 265 yards and two touchdowns. His 265-yard receiving performance was not only a career-high but also a Cleveland Browns' single-game record. 

He has totaled over 400 yards receiving over his last three games. 

The main question is if the Jets will allow Gardner to travel against a player like Cooper. In New York's zone defensive scheme, they have ultimate trust in each of their other corners (D.J. Reed and Michael Carter II) and don't directly match Gardner up against the other team's WR1.

It's caused problems for the Jets throughout the 2023 season. Against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2, New York allowed CeeDee Lamb to have 11 catches for 143 yards. Lamb did a majority of his damage in the slot and the soft underbelly of Gang Green's zone. 

On Thursday, the Jets could allow Gardner to travel and try and shut down a player like Cooper, but the odds aren't exactly great.

"I think we did it last week, some with [Terry] McLaurin," Saleh explained. "So, there are going to be opportunities. Like I said, it’s not a stubbornness, it’s a whole philosophy and a whole global thinking with regards to all eleven, but when we can, we have shown that we will."

The Jets may be eliminated from playoff contention this year, but there is plenty to watch when they take on a playoff-contending team in the Browns.  

Seeing how Gardner handles the pressure of guarding a player of Cooper's caliber (if the Jets allow) will be at the top of that list. 

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