Jets more willing to let Sauce Gardner shadow top receivers entering third season

One of the first things All-Pro Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner discussed with his coaches after last season was his desire to “travel” more with the opposition’s No. 1 receivers. It sounds like he is going to get his wish.

Coach Robert Saleh said this week that the Jets would be “judicious” when deciding to have Gardner travel but it could happen more this season.

“I’m always looking forward to the challenge,” Gardner said. “I would like to call myself one of the best in the game, if not the best. I’m always open to competing. I want to challenge myself, challenge other people, but ultimately I just want to do whatever it takes for the team to win. That’s what it’s all about, winning games.”

Gardner has been a star since he arrived with the Jets as a first-round pick in 2022. He has been named first-team All-Pro in each of his first two seasons.

The Jets have deployed Gardner at times on a specific receiver, but more often they have him play one side and D.J. Reed play another or move them around in specific situations like third down or in the red zone.

“He did [travel] last year, and we’ll be judicious like we normally are,” Saleh said. “He’s a weapon we can use from the defensive standpoint, but to say it’ll be exclusive, I’m not going to say that, but he did last year, to say he might do a little bit more, that’s a possibility, but I think it’s going to be more game-to-game.”