The Indianapolis Colts could have one of the best secondaries in the NFL if the team can get fully healthy. That appears to be the case in Week 12 when Indy travels to play the Kansas City Chiefs. Cornerback Charvarius Ward is set to return from injured reserve and will be playing across from Sauce Gardner for the first time.
Ward has proven to be an excellent corner throughout his career, and the Colts definitely made it a priority to sign Ward in free agency this past offseason. Unfortunately, Ward has suffered two concussions this season, the last coming in pre-game warmups before Week 7. He has missed the last four games.
Hurting a knee or shoulder can definitely affect one's life, but suffering multiple concussions can be much worse. The effects can be long-lasting and life-altering, especially as one ages. If an NFL player has a couple of concussions, it is logical for them to think about whether they want to keep playing.
Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward gets real about football and life
This is the question Charvarius Ward was asking himself during his recent time of not being able to play. The 29-year-old won't be playing football for all that much longer and will hopefully have a long life after he retires. Would it be better to quit now and not risk suffering yet another concussion, something that can lead to CTE and, therefore, memory loss, motor skill difficulties, and more?
The cornerback was asked about his injury issue this season and the freakish nature of his second concussion. Instead of being hit by an opposing player in a game, he was hit by one of his own at the end of pregame warmups. He didn't see the other player coming, and Ward was completely knocked out.
Ward said that he was dizzy for about a month and that he was "kind of doubting if (he) was going to play football again because it was that scary." He thought about his life outside of football, implying how such a dangerous injury would affect his family and other things he wants to do besides playing a professional sport.
#Colts CB Charvarius Ward Sr. on the concussion/IR:
“I was kind of doubting if I was gonna play football again b/c it was that scary. B/c I was thinking about my life …”
“Once I stopped getting dizzy … that’s when I felt like I could play again. So, hell yeah, I’m ready.” pic.twitter.com/6osY9VPPbg
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) November 21, 2025
But now that he has returned from injury reserve, Charvarius Ward has no doubts about helping the Indianapolis Colts win more games, simply saying, "Hell yeah, I'm ready."
For the first time, Colts fans will get to see the pairing of Ward and Sauce Gardner. Gardner was acquired at the trade deadline while Ward was still on IR. The first test they face could be a tough one. Or, more likely, Ward and Gardner will simply make life miserable for Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.