Charvarius Ward’s message from training camp in Westfield was simple: he’s not walking away, and he’s not easing into anything.
The Colts cornerback said he’s treating this season as a chance to answer back after a brutal year, and he’s doing it with a fresh challenge in front of him. With Michael Pittman Jr. gone and a different type of receiver group showing up in camp, Ward sees a matchup that can sharpen the entire defense.
“I look at it as an opportunity for us because we’re learning from a different skill set,” he said. “We’ve got to get our hands on the ball and move our feet more.”
That outlook comes after a season that hit him far harder than the box score ever could. Ward said a severe concussion left him dizzy for 30 days and kept him from driving or even listening to music.
“I was hurt mentally and emotionally more than physically,” Ward said. “It brought up a lot of trauma.”
The pain didn’t stop there. He said the injury brought back the grief of losing his daughter, and for a stretch, retirement felt very real.
What pulled him back was the same thing that’s kept him moving through the hardest moments: family and faith. “Life is bigger than football.
My purpose relies on the people I love,” he said. His kids are still the center of it all.
“I’m doing it for my kids-bringing them smiles, happiness and joy.”
Ward also made it clear he believes in what the Colts have built on the back end. He called the secondary one of the deepest units he’s been part of.
For now, the focus is on staying healthy and seeing the deal through. Ward said he wants to finish the job on his own terms.
“I want to fulfill this contract and go out on a very high note,” he said. “I want to make my daughter, my family, the organization and the fan base proud.”
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Colts Quiet Offseason Is Getting Harder To Defend In The AFC South
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