Ahead of a huge, potentially season-defining AFC showdown against the Chiefs, the Indianapolis Colts got some great news on injured CB Charvarius Ward. After suffering a concussion in a freak collision with a teammate during pregame warmups in Week 6, Ward was placed on Injured Reserve (IR) with his second concussion of the season.
Coming off their bye week, the Colts opened the 21-day practice window for Ward earlier this week. He was a full participant in practice Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and was initially listed as questionable for Sunday on Friday’s practice report. However, on Saturday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed that Ward has cleared the league’s concussion protocol and has been activated from IR, setting him up to play tomorrow against the Chiefs.
Ward’s return marks the first time fans will see him take the field next to blockbuster trade acquisition and two-time All-Pro CB Sauce Gardner. Indianapolis traded for Gardner at the trade deadline and he made his Colts debut in Berlin against the Falcons. Now, Ward will line up across from him, giving Indy their first look at their superstar cornerback duo. With CB Kenny Moore II manning the slot, the Colts will hope they have the firepower to slow down the Chiefs and QB Patrick Mahomes.
Indianapolis Colts CB Charvarius Ward Contemplated Retirement
Johnnie Izquierdo/GettyNASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – SEPTEMBER 21: Charvarius Ward #7 of the Indianapolis Colts defends against Calvin Ridley #0 of the Tennessee Titans during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images)
It really was a freak accident. Ward was running through some warmup drills ahead of Indianapolis’ game against the Cardinals when he collided with reserve TE Drew Ogletree, who was jogging off the sideline. Ward lost consciousness and had to be carted off the field — it was a scary injury and immediately apparent that it was a serious one at that.
Ward said he was “getting dizzy for damn near a month,” and that it was “a traumatic injury for [him].” But he also added that he’s “feeling good, though.”
Additionally, Ward said he contemplated retirement after suffering his second concussion of the season. Ward has a history with concussions and has a family to think about. “I was kind of doubting if I was going to play football again,” he said. “It was that scary… I was thinking about my life outside of football too.”
The Indianapolis Colts Face a Huge Test in the Chiefs
This Week 12 matchup against the Chiefs is a massive litmus test for the surging Colts. At 8-2, Indianapolis is just half a game behind the Broncos and Patriots for the top seed in the AFC, and neither of those teams has had their bye week yet.
The race for the top seed in the AFC will be a doozy, with the contenders likely coming down to those three teams. However, the Texans and Jaguars are both nipping at the Colts’ heels in the AFC South, and Indianapolis still has to face both of their division rivals twice yet in the next few weeks.
Outside of the four total games against the Texans and Jaguars and this week’s game against the Chiefs, the Colts also play the 49ers and Seahawks. There isn’t an “easy” game left on Indianapolis’ schedule, and the stretch run starts now in Kansas City.
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