Charvarius Ward Set to Return After Serious Concussion

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Charvarius Ward Sr. is poised to make his long-awaited return to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Nov. 25, after recovering from a severe concussion sustained in Week 6. The veteran cornerback thought his career might be over following the injury, which occurred during pregame warmups when he collided with teammate Drew Ogletree.

Ward, 29, officially cleared concussion protocol earlier this week and was activated off the Injured Reserve on Saturday. He missed five games due to the injury, which left him grappling with dizziness, vomiting, and headaches for nearly a month. “I was throwing up, getting dizzy. I was getting dizzy for like a month. That wasn’t normal, so that was like a real-deal traumatic injury for me,” he explained to reporters.

The collision happened as Ward and Ogletree were engaged in warmup drills at Lucas Oil Stadium, resulting in a hard hit that left Ward unconscious. “One moment, I’m going for the ball. The next moment, I’m knocked out,” Ward said, recalling the incident.

Before this season, Ward had only experienced one other concussion, but he found this recent injury particularly challenging. He revealed that there were times he thought about retirement, saying, “I was kind of doubting if I was gonna play football again because it was that scary.”

In the weeks since the injury, Ward’s spirits have improved, and he expressed excitement at the prospect of playing alongside newly acquired two-time All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. “I feel like we can be the best duo or one of the best duos in the league,” Ward noted. This sentiment reflects the Colts’ hopes for a strong defense as they head into a pivotal game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen confirmed that Ward will play against the Chiefs, making his presence vital for a team vying for postseason positioning. With a record of 8-2, the Colts are just half a game behind for the top seed in the AFC, but face fierce competition as the season progresses.

Despite the challenges of his concussion recovery, Ward remains focused, stating, “The injury may have been a blessing in disguise” related to personal struggles he faces off the field. His resilience highlights his determination to contribute to the Colts during this critical stretch of the season.