The Indianapolis Colts have made some rather curious roster moves this week that have stolen headlines nationwide. Looking beyond the odd return of Philip Rivers to the NFL, however, another transaction deserves far more attention.
The Colts placed cornerback Charvarius Ward on injured reserve this week, which means he has to miss the rest of the regular season with only four games remaining. Indy is, at the present moment, sitting out of the playoff picture in the No. 8 seed, so it's quite possible his season is over. Questions about his future beyond that, however, are coming into focus as well.
Ward suffered a head injury in Week 14 and reported his symptoms to the Colts, who placed him in the concussion protocol. Then came the move to IR. It's the third time this season that Ward has suffered a concussion. Any head injury is scary for a player, but Ward had already been through a "traumatic" time trying to return from the second one, which occurred in Week 6.
The Colts cornerback suffered his third concussion in 2025, which raises questions about his playing future after eight years in the NFL.
Following his return from the second concussion this season, which came in Week 12 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Ward admitted he faced questions about his future in the NFL. "I was kind of doubting if I was going to play football again. It was that scary... I was thinking about my life outside of football, too."
This latest injury is a horrifying development for a player who has been an excellent player on the field and a civic leader off of it. He has his own charitable organization, the Change With Charvarius Foundation, and multiple lucrative contracts tell the story best of how teams are desperate to add his talents.
Ward first entered the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent signed out of Middle Tennessee State following the 2018 NFL Draft. The Chiefs dealt for Ward in a preseason deal that sent offensive lineman Parker Ehinger to Dallas, and Ward became a long-term starter on the boundary for the Chiefs for four years before the San Francisco 49ers signed him away in 2022
The Colts signed Ward to a three-year deal worth up to $60 million. Following the recent trade for Sauce Gardner, the hope was that both veterans would elevate and anchor a dynamic secondary for a surprising Colts team that was, at the time, leading the AFC South. Since then, injuries have taken hold at both quarterback and now cornerback, with Ward's playing future in doubt.
Ward has plenty of time to consider his options with the likelihood of his season ending, but he's accomplished more than most players even dream of on the field. Hopefully, Ward is able to find long-term health and happines no matter what choice he makes.