The Colts got the kind of injury news they badly needed heading into Week 3: Charvarius Ward is trending toward playing against the Texans.
That matters because Indianapolis is already staring at a season that’s drifting the wrong way early. After two games, the defense has been a problem, and Ward’s status had to be a concern after he was listed with a groin issue. He also dealt with three concussions in 2025, which only added to the worry.
For now, though, the signs point toward Ward giving it a go Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium in what feels like a must-win spot for the Colts. A loss would drop Indy to 0-3 and leave it a full game behind Houston, which would be sitting at 1-2. A win, on the other hand, would give the Colts a chance to change the tone around the season and the future of head coach Shane Steichen.
Ward’s availability becomes even bigger if the Texans are without wide receiver Nico Collins, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. If Collins is out, Ward and fellow cornerback Sauce Gardner should have a chance to help slow Houston’s passing game. And even if Collins ends up playing, Indianapolis can’t afford another shaky defensive outing with Ward on the field.
That’s the real issue for the Colts so far: the defense has given up more than 500 yards in each of the first two games. If they’re going to get back on track in Week 3, that has to stop.
The Colts may still wait until game day before making the final call on Ward, and the biggest question will be how much he can actually handle if he suits up. He could play the whole game, but that won’t be clear until Sunday.
Indianapolis did rule out wide receiver and special-teamer Ashton Dulin, though that absence doesn’t carry the same weight. Dulin has value as a returner, but Ward is a much harder piece to replace.
So while Charvarius “Mooney” Ward could still end up missing some or all of Week 3, the current direction is encouraging for the Colts. In a game this important against the Texans, that’s a significant development.
In Other News...
Colts Injury Report Brings Relief With One Big Texans Concern Still Looming
The Colts got a little clarity on the injury front this week as they and the Texans worked through practice ahead of Sundays matchup. Indianapolis still has its own health questions, with several players showing up as limited or not practicing, including wide receivers Ashton Dulin and Alec Pierce, and Pierce is expected to land on injured reserve.
Houston, though, has its own issue that could matter just as much for the game plan. The Texans report included key names such as tackle Trent Brown and receiver Nico Collins, with both listed among the players dealing with injuries, and that leaves one of the bigger concerns in the matchup still hanging over the week. [Read more 🡒]
Sauce Gardners Colts Start Has Brought More Heat Than Answers
Sauce Gardner arrived in Indianapolis with the sort of rsum that usually comes with instant credibility, and he has tried to bring that same edge to the Colts secondary. A two-time first-team All-Pro and the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Gardner has already stepped into a leadership role since the trade from the Jets, even as the broader results have been uneven and the team has dropped to 1-3 with him in the building.
Justin Walley has been asked to fill in at nickel corner in Gardners absence, and the rookie has been getting thrown into the kind of reps that can speed up development whether the day goes cleanly or not. It has been a useful stretch for the Colts to see what they have behind their headline addition, but it also underscores the larger question hanging over the move: when Gardner is on the field, how quickly can this start turn from intrigue into the kind of impact Indianapolis expected? [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Taylor Already Has The Texans Worried Before Colts Showdown
Jonathan Taylor is already the name Houston is circling ahead of Sundays Week 3 meeting, and it is not hard to see why. The Colts running back has tied for the league lead in rushing touchdowns through two weeks, giving Indianapolis a clear focal point as both teams head into the game still looking for their first win of the season.
DeMeco Ryans singled Taylor out as the player Houston has to stop, a telling sign of how much attention the Texans are putting on the Colts' ground game. With Houstons defense having struggled early and Indianapolis bringing a back who can tilt a game quickly, this matchup already feels like it could come down to whether the Texans can slow Taylor before he gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]