The Colts are counting on Charvarius Ward Sr. to be a major piece of their secondary this season, but the veteran corner is already making clear that his back will be part of the conversation all year.
Ward, who signed a three-year, $54 million deal last offseason, said the injury he’s been dealing with won’t be a quick fix. He missed the final five practices of training camp, including the three joint sessions against the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, while the team worked through the issue.
“Yeah. I mean, we did some things for it. Flew somewhere to get some work done to it, and we've just been maintaining and rehabbing it every day, trying to attack it hard and just get ready for the season, Week 1,” Ward said.
He was even more direct about what comes next.
“It’s going to be something I've got to deal with, something I've got to maintain, something I've got to manage,” he continued. “Definitely not going to be fixed overnight or over the next couple weeks. I've just got to maintain it throughout the entire season.”
Ward said he returned to practice this week and expects to be ready for Week 1, though he also made it clear the situation could be fluid from week to week.
“Yeah, I feel good to be back out there for the first time in like two and a half, three weeks,” Ward said. “Didn't really feel any pain yesterday, so it's kind of good to get back into the groove of things.
Today, I should get some real reps, some competition. So, we'll see how I feel today.”
He described the plan as something that will depend on how his back responds after practices or games.
“It’s really just how it reacts throughout the week. Like, if I do something, I hurt it in a game or in practice, I'll probably just sit down a bit until Sunday.
So the main goal is just to be ready on Sundays. I expect I'll be ready, though, for sure.”
The Colts have already had to adjust without him in camp. With Ward sidelined, they moved slot corner Justin Walley to Ward’s boundary spot opposite Sauce Gardner, while Cam Taylor-Britt filled Walley’s slot role. If Ward has to miss time during the season, that setup could remain in play.
When Ward is available, Indianapolis believes its cornerback group can help Lou Anarumo open up the whole defense. The idea is to give the coordinator a true trio with Ward, Gardner, and Walley that can hold up in man coverage and let the Colts get creative up front with blitzes and other looks aimed at confusing offenses.
In Other News...
Anthony Richardsons Colts Future Suddenly Feels Far Less Certain
Anthony Richardsons standing with the Colts has shifted into a far more delicate place this week, even with the team continuing to speak publicly in support of him throughout the offseason. Indianapolis has already named Daniel Jones its starting quarterback, leaving Richardson to compete for the backup job, a setup that naturally changes how the front office weighs the rest of the depth chart and the future of the position.
Now, with multiple NFL teams reportedly asking about quarterbacks in Richardsons range, his name has entered trade talk even though nothing is close to settled. The Colts have made no definitive decision on moving him, and any deal would have to make sense in return value, but the fact that inquiries are happening at all is a reminder that Richardsons path in Indianapolis is suddenly less secure than it looked not long ago. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Cornerback Shake-Up Leaves One Final Roster Battle
A difficult preseason for Mekhi Blackmon ended with the Colts waiving the veteran cornerback, a move that sharpened an already crowded picture in the secondary. Indianapolis still looks set at the top with Sauce Gardner, Charvarius Ward and Justin Walley projected as the starters, while Cam Taylor-Britt appears positioned as the primary backup behind them.
Johnathan Edwards is also trending toward a roster spot because of what he brings on special teams, which leaves one more decision looming for the Colts. Jaylon Jones and Rob Carter Jr. are still in the mix for what could be the sixth cornerback job, and with roster cuts now moving into the final phase, that last spot is the one worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Face A Growing Question At MIKE With CJ Allen Lagging
The Colts spent part of training camp hoping to settle a central question in the middle of their defense, but CJ Allens early NFL stretch has made that a little less straightforward. The second-round pick has been slowed by calf and hamstring injuries, and his first preseason game offered a reminder that he still has work to do after acknowledging the need to improve. With limited reps behind him, Allen has not been able to build the kind of momentum that usually comes with a fast path into a starting job.
Indianapolis has already adjusted around him, with other linebackers handling the MIKE duties Allen was expected to take on. That does not close the door on his role long term, but it does create a temporary picture that looks different from what the Colts had in mind when they drafted him. For a defense trying to find its footing, the next stretch of camp will matter for Allen, and for how quickly the Colts can settle the heart of the linebacker group. [Read more 🡒]