It's been a frustrating week for a couple of former Kansas City Chiefs players who have been dealing with injuries, one of which is quite concerning and bewildering at the same time.
Both former Chiefs wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and cornerback Charvarius Ward have weathered tough times recently as they deal with injuries—and the franchises that employ them try to figure out what to do in response.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling's injury turn
For Valdes-Scantling, a calf injury suffered in recent days landed him on injured reserve with the San Francisco 49ers. The veteran receiver had signed with the team's practice squad shortly before the season after things didn't work out with the Seattle Seahawks. He was promoted to the active roster due to the significant number of injuries that San Francisco has been dealing with.
Valdes-Scantling went from a rarely used offensive weapon in the first few weeks of this season to a healthy scratch in Week 4 to playing in 60 percent of snaps in Week 6. On Saturday, however, the 49ers released him with an injury settlement from IR.
The Niners still have former Chiefs receivers Skyy. Moore and Demarcus Robinson in the fold after the release of MVS.
A surprising concussion for Charvarius Ward
Of the two players, Ward can lay claim to the toughest week for former Chiefs.
Ward's bad week began on October 12, when in pregame warmups at Lucas OIl Stadium for a Week 6 contest against the Arizona Cardinals, began with an odd collision with tight end Drew Ogletree. Ward sustained a head injury and was later ruled out with a concussion.
#Colts CB Charvarius Ward and TE Drew Ogletree accidentally ran into each other during pregame warmups, per the Fox broadcast. Ward sustained a concussion and was ruled out.
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) October 12, 2025
Here’s the replay. pic.twitter.com/FnDIruRDTL
Not only was Ward forced to miss a close game against the Cardinals, but the Colts will now be without him for the next month after placing him on injured reserve before Week 7. The earliest he can return is following the team's bye week for a game against the Chiefs in Week 12.
The Colts are now in a precarious position as their schedule gets a bit tougher, beginning with a date against Justin Herbert and the Chargers. Ward is the team's top cornerback, so expect Indy to deal for some secondary help before the league's trade deadline on November 4.
Ward entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, but was dealt to Kansas City shortly before his rookie season began in 2018 in a rare player-for-player swap in which the Chiefs gave up offensive lineman Parker Ehinger. Ward would go on to start 43 games for the Chiefs before signing a lucrative deal in free agency with the San Francisco 49ers.