Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward has entered the concussion protocol for the third time this season, just weeks after saying a second concussion had him considering quitting football.
Colts head coach Sean Steichen made the announcement Monday. According to the Colts, Ward reported concussion symptoms after Sunday’s loss to the Jaguars and was still being treated as of Monday. It’s unclear when or how he was injured and received treatment. Ward did not speak to reporters Monday.
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Steichen didn’t provide many details about his injury, but when asked if he was concerned about Ward’s repeated concussions, he had this to say:
“Yeah, I think it’s always concerning when you have that many concussions,” Steichen said. “Like I said, he’s already in the protocol. We’re going to work it out with him and go from there.”
Ward had previously missed five games with a concussion.
The concerns are heightened considering Ward said on Nov. 21 that his second concussion of the season was a “real traumatic injury.”
Ward suffered his first concussion in Week 1 of the season against the Dolphins. He described the injury as “a bit of a migraine.” He missed the Week 2 game against the Broncos before returning in Week 3 against the Titans.
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Ward suffered his second concussion of the season during pregame warmups before Week 6 when teammate Drew Ogletree collided with him during a drill without pads or a helmet. The concussion knocked Ward unconscious.
Ward missed five games with a brain injury.
Before his return in Week 12, he described a traumatic experience that included vomiting and dizziness that prompted him to consider quitting football.
“The second time it happened, I started vomiting and getting dizzy,” Ward said on Nov. 21. “I was dizzy for about a month. It was like real trauma. A lot of emotions.”
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Ward went on to talk about the unintentional collision with Ogletree, a 260-pound tight end who is more than 60 pounds heavier than him.
“It’s crazy,” Ward continued. “One moment I was trying to grab the ball. The next moment I was knocked down, on my back, being wheeled off the field in a wheelchair…
“It was crazy. It definitely scared me, man. I got knocked down. I’ve never been knocked down. My eyes were swollen. I kind of doubted if I was ever going to play football again. It was scary. Because I was also thinking about life outside of football. It was crazy.”
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Ward, 29, is an eight-year NFL veteran playing his first season with the Colts. He has been a full-time starter since his second NFL season with the Chiefs and was selected to the Pro Bowl and All-Pro in 2023 while playing for the 49ers.
It’s unclear the severity of his latest concussion or his timetable for returning to the field. Given his past concussion experience and comments, there’s reason to be skeptical about his football future.
