Charvarius Ward isn’t leaving anything to chance.
The Colts cornerback opened the season wearing a Guardian cap in Indianapolis’ loss to the Ravens, another layer of protection for a player who has already had to stare down the possibility that concussions could end his career.
Ward had already moved to a helmet designed to help prevent concussions. For Week 1, he added the soft-shell covering on top of it, hoping to cut down on head impact after what he went through during the 2025 season.
“I was scared of getting knocked out again, for real,” Ward said. “I just put a Guardian cap on, I warmed up with it, and it felt good when I wore it during warmups, so I just kept it on all game.”
The fear comes from real experience. Ward suffered three concussions in 2025, and the worst of them happened in pregame warmups when tight end Drew Ogletree ran into him and knocked him unconscious.
The symptoms lingered for more than a month, bringing dizziness and headaches. Later in the year, when he finally returned to the field, another stretch of concussion symptoms sent him to injured reserve.
That history left Ward openly weighing retirement. He said at the end of July that he was “85%” convinced he’d walk away, before changing his mind during offseason training and deciding he still had more to give.
Even now, the concern hasn’t disappeared.
“I don’t know if it made a difference or not,” Ward said. “I’ve got a headache right now.
I don’t think it’s a concussion, but it is what it is. It’s just football.
You’re going to get dinged up, you’re going to get knocked around. It’s part of the game.
Football’s a physical game. I know what I signed up for.”
For now, Ward plans to keep the Guardian cap on.
“I might as well keep it for the season,” Ward said. “It’s not going to hurt me, so I think I’m going to wear it for the season.”
In Other News...
Colts Already Face One Ugly Question After Week 1 Collapse
The Colts season opener in Baltimore offered an early reminder that September can expose a lot more than just a final score. Indianapolis fell 41-23 to the Ravens, and the frustration came not only from the loss itself but from the way the defense handled the game, especially in the secondary. With veteran Kenny Moore gone after requesting his release, nickelback Justin Walley was thrust into a tougher role, and the problems around him quickly became part of the story.
Lou Anarumos defense now has an uncomfortable standard to answer after a rough debut, and Shane Steichens offense did not look like the group that had the cleaner game plan. Baltimores first-time head coach Jesse Minter appeared to have his team better prepared, even as the Colts showed enough fight to keep swinging late. The bigger question for Indianapolis is whether this was a one-game stumble or the first sign that the issues run deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Have A Bigger Concern Than The Final Score Against Baltimore
The Colts left Baltimore with more than just a lopsided loss to sort through after the Ravens rolled to a 41-23 win in Jesse Minters debut on the sideline. Indianapolis got a big day from Derrick Henry, who ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns while moving past Marcus Allen into third place on the NFLs career rushing touchdowns list, but the result still put a spotlight on how much ground the Colts have to make up after a shaky outing.
Baltimore, meanwhile, found its own jolt from an aggressive game plan under offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, with Zay Flowers piling up a career-high 150 receiving yards before leaving with a hamstring injury. For Indianapolis, the final score was only part of the issue - the larger concern is how a defense that entered the day looking for answers now has even more to fix, and it comes with the uncertainty of how long Flowers will be sidelined hanging over the Ravens' offensive momentum. [Read more 🡒]
Colts Bring Back A Veteran Corner As Pressure Builds In Crowded Secondary
The Colts made a roster move to bring back veteran corner Cam Taylor-Britt, waiving Johnathan Edwards to clear the spot as the secondary keeps getting tighter. Taylor-Britt is returning from a one-game suspension and gives Indianapolis another experienced option at a position group that already has several corners split between the active roster and practice squad.
For a team trying to sort out roles in the back end, adding a player with Taylor-Britts track record adds both depth and a little more intrigue. He arrived after his run with the Bengals, and his profile comes with on-field value as well as off-field baggage, so his return is the kind of move that can reshape a crowded room while still leaving questions about how the Colts plan to use all of their options. [Read more 🡒]