“The Sauce Effect: When Sauce Gardner was off field, Brock Purdy was 6-of-6 passing.” This tweet from ESPN’s Rich Cimini might as well have been a distress signal for Jets fans on Monday night. In a game where every play counts, the mysterious disappearance of their All-Pro cornerback had the Gang Green faithful holding their breath and refreshing their Twitter feeds.

Jets fans were on a roller coaster of emotions Monday night, and it wasn’t just because of Aaron Rodgers‘ long-awaited return. Their All-Pro cornerback, Sauce Gardner, pulled a disappearing act that had everyone from the ESPN broadcast team to die-hard supporters playing detective. During the second quarter of the Jets’ season opener against the 49ers, Gardner vanished from the field for nine crucial plays.

The sight of the star defender standing on the sidelines, helmet in hand, set off alarm bells throughout Jets Nation. Connor Hughes, a well-known sports journalist, took to X to voice his confusion, questioning why the Jets would bench their best cornerback. Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT, also weighed in, noting that Gardner appeared to injure his left shoulder while attempting to tackle Deebo Samuel.

However, the plot thickened when ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salters dug for answers. Jets PR insisted there was “nothing wrong” with Gardner and that his absence wasn’t medically related. This contradiction only fueled the confusion fire. Adding to the mystery, Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic observed Gardner “on one knee alone on the sideline” and “staring at the ground a lot.”

The cornerback later walked to the locker room with his head down, sparking further speculation about his physical and mental state. Gardner’s short absence is particularly baffling given his critical role in the Jets’ defense. Last season, he was instrumental in helping the Jets rank No. 1 in the NFL for opponents’ pass yards allowed per game.

His aggressive play style and ability to shut down top receivers make him a cornerstone of the Jets’ defensive strategy. The decision to sideline him even for a short period, especially in a crucial game, raises questions as fingers point to an impending question of him potentially being benched in the lack of a medical reason.

The sauce effect on the Jets!

While the reason for Gardner’s brief exit remains cloudy, its impact on the game was crystal clear. The 49ers offense, which had been sputtering against the Jets’ stout defense, suddenly found its rhythm. Rich Cimini of ESPN crunched the numbers, and they tell a tale of two defenses. With Gardner on the field, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy struggled mightily, completing just 3 of 10 passes for a measly 4.2 yards per attempt. He even took a sack for good measure.

But the moment Gardner stepped off? It was like someone flipped a switch. Purdy transformed into a laser-guided missile, going a perfect 6-for-6 with a whopping 10.7 yards per attempt. The 49ers marched down the field, eventually settling for a field goal that pushed their lead to 16-7 at halftime.

This stark contrast hammers home Gardner’s value to the Jets’ defense. His presence alone seems to shrink the field, giving opposing quarterbacks nightmares. When he’s not there? Well, matters seem to hardly ever land in his team’s favor in such a scenario.

The good news for Jets fans though remained that Gardner returned to start the second half, looking no worse for wear. ESPN reported he was back in the game, ready to lock down his side of the field once again. But those nine plays without him serve as a reminder: in the NFL, even a few minutes can make all the difference.