The Indianapolis Colts were flying high at 7-1 not too long ago, sitting atop the AFC and looking every bit like a contender. But the last month has been a reality check.
Since that hot start, they've dropped three of their last four, with their only win coming in overtime against a struggling Falcons team. And while most would’ve expected the offense to be the engine of this team, it’s actually been the defense keeping things afloat - even with some glaring issues in the secondary.
Let’s start with the obvious: the defense has had its moments, but it’s also been left on the field way too long. That was on full display in the Week 12 loss to Kansas City, where the Chiefs racked up nearly 500 total yards.
But that stat doesn’t tell the whole story. The Colts' offense sputtered in the second half, going three-and-out repeatedly and forcing the defense to carry the load.
Eventually, even the best units wear down.
Still, not all of the defensive struggles can be chalked up to fatigue or poor complementary football. One of the biggest concerns right now is the play of veteran cornerback Charvarius Ward. The Colts brought him in this past offseason on a three-year deal worth up to $60 million, with the expectation that he’d be the lockdown presence they’ve lacked in the secondary - a guy who could take pressure off the pass rush and anchor coverage on the outside.
So far, that hasn’t happened.
Ward’s first season in Indy has been marred by injuries - two concussions have sidelined him for six games - and while no one should fault a player for being cautious with head injuries, his performance since returning from injured reserve has raised some eyebrows. Simply put, he hasn’t looked like himself.
Ward owned up to it after the Colts’ Week 13 loss to Houston, telling reporters, “...definitely haven’t been playing up to my standard yet... Hopefully I can come out there this next week... and be the Mooney that I know that I’ve become over the years.” (For those unfamiliar, “Mooney” is Ward’s long-time nickname.)
The Colts were hoping that pairing Ward with newly acquired All-Pro Sauce Gardner would solidify their secondary. But in their first game together, Gardner left early with a calf injury - and Ward was left exposed. He gave up four catches on eight targets for 61 yards, and things only got worse the following week.
Against the Texans, Ward was targeted seven times and allowed five completions for 101 yards. The most concerning part?
Over half of those yards - 53 to be exact - came after the catch. That’s a sign of a corner not finishing plays, not closing the gap, and not making tackles when it counts.
And that’s not just a one-off issue. Ward is currently missing 20.8% of his tackle attempts - the highest rate of his career.
That’s a red flag for any defensive back, especially one being paid to be the No. 1 guy. Missed tackles at corner can turn short gains into chunk plays, and right now, the Colts can’t afford to give up anything easy.
With Gardner now expected to miss multiple weeks, the spotlight turns squarely to Ward. The Colts need him to step up - not just to justify his contract, but to stabilize a defense that’s been asked to do far too much. If Indy wants to get back to winning football, it starts with getting better play from its highest-paid corner.
Ward says he knows what he’s capable of. Now he needs to prove it.