Cornerback Charavrius Ward returned to the gameday field for the first time in six weeks for the Indianapolis Colts following an accidental collision in Week 6 that gave him a concussion and landed him on injured reserve.
It was the defender’s second time being in the concussion protocol this season and finally healthy to return after the team’s bye in Week 11.
Ward had a big game awaiting him in his return to the team in Week 12. It was the first showing of him and trade deadline-acquired teammate, Sauce Gardner, going up against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Colts’ defense did not allow Mahomes to have a passing touchdown in the game, but did let up 352 passing yards and almost 150 rushing yards.
It was an off day for the defense in Ward’s return to the team, but there was some controversy when the cornerback received a blindside hit from a Chiefs’ offensive lineman, Kingsley Suamataia.
According to The Athletic’s James Boyd, Ward said the hit was more to his chest than to his head, but a rough sight to see from a player returning from concussion protocol. If the hit were more severe than it appeared, it would have been a tough break for the cornerback, who would have been on concussion protocol for a third time in a season.
Steichen On Blindside Hit To Charvarius Ward
GettyCharvarius Ward has only played in four games for the Indianapolis Colts before returning in Week 12
For Charvarius Ward to return from a concussion, then almost suffer another, would have been terrible for the player’s health. It did not occur and Ward was able to finish the game.
A reporter asked Colts head coach Shane Steichen for an update on the corner, as some concussions could take a day to two to take full effect.
“As far as I know, he’s good to go,” Steichen told the media. “I talked to him after the game, he [said] he felt good. So he should be good.”
Ward believed his season would have been over if he had stood up and started to stumble after the hit.
“I laid on the ground a little bit. Kind of gained my composure. And luckily, I kind of just got the wind knocked out of me,” Ward said after the game. “I didn’t have blurry vision like I used to have. That second concussion, every time I stand up, I’d get dizzy.”
With the cornerback at least on the right track, the Colts will still have their cornerback duo heading into the final games of the season.
Ward Gets Honest On Colts Defense
GettyCharvarius Ward (right) playing against the Tennessee Titans
The loss to Kansas City was the Indianapolis Colts’ second loss in three weeks.
Indianapolis was in the lead the majority of the game before the offense went cold in the fourth quarter and the defense let up 11 points, allowing the Chiefs to tie the game and force overtime.
Indy’s offense failed to continue the drive in OT, which allowed Kansas City to win the game on a field goal.
“We needed a game like this, a hard-fought game, an old-time game against a Super Bowl team,” Charvarius Ward said, via ESPN. “I think we’re a Super Bowl-contending team, too, as well. So, we needed this type of game for sure.”
In the season, Indy has beaten only two teams with a winning record. The Colts’ final stretch until the end of the season will be a test for the playoffs, as the final six teams they’ll face all have a record of 0.500 or better, as of the end of Week 12.
Indianapolis is still in contention to get the number one seed in the AFC.
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