Colts Place Charvarius Ward Sr. on Injured Reserve Following Concussion

The Indianapolis Colts have placed cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. on injured reserve, effectively sidelining him for at least the next four games. This decision follows a concussion Ward sustained during warmups before last weekend’s victory against the Arizona Cardinals. As a result, he missed the entire week of practices leading up to the upcoming game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Ward’s earliest potential return is during the Week 12 road game against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 23, 2023, as the Colts have a bye in Week 11. The 29-year-old cornerback has made an impact in his first season with the Colts, recording 13 tackles and three passes defensed over four games. Prior to joining Indianapolis, Ward played for the Chiefs from 2018 to 2022 and the San Francisco 49ers in 2022. He was part of the Chiefs team that won the Super Bowl during the 2019 season and faced defeat in the championship with both the 2020 Chiefs and the 2023 49ers.

Recognized for his performance, Ward was named a Pro Bowl pick and selected as a second-team All-Pro in 2023, during which he intercepted a career-high five passes and led the NFL with 23 pass breakups.

In response to Ward’s absence, the Colts have signed running back Ameer Abdullah to the 53-man roster from their practice squad. Abdullah, 32, has previously played in two games this season, carrying the ball three times for 13 yards and a touchdown. Over his ten-year career, he has accumulated 2,007 rushing yards and a total of 20 touchdowns—nine rushing and 11 receiving—across 143 games with five NFL teams.

The Colts also elevated cornerback Cameron Mitchell and receiver Laquon Treadwell from their practice squad to bolster the roster. Meanwhile, cornerback Kenny Moore II is currently listed as questionable due to an Achilles injury. The team has ruled out wide receivers Josh Downs (concussion) and Ashton Dulin (chest) for the upcoming matchup.

As the Colts prepare for their game against the Chargers, they look to adjust their strategy and fill the gaps left by these injuries, aiming to maintain their momentum in the season.