Indianapolis Colts cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. may no longer be leaning toward retirement.
One of the crown jewels of the Indianapolis Colts' previous offseason was the lucrative contract handed out to free agent cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr.
The Colts inked Ward to a three-year, $54 million deal to become their shutdown corner in coordinator Lou Anarumo's new defense. Unfortunately, things got turbulent for Ward early in the season, and he was unable to have the kind of impact that both he and the Colts hoped for.
After three concussions, including two trips to Injured Reserve, Ward, who turns 30 in May, told reporters that he was seriously contemplating retirement. He cited the severe and prolonged side effects he had during the season and his consideration for his family and long-term health.
Ward also remarked that if he does return in 2026 and gets another concussion, then he would likely retire. Whether that meant immediately or after the season is unclear.
Ward's status for 2026 has been one of the biggest unanswered questions so far in the Colts' offseason, but ESPN Colts reporter Stephen Holder recently got an update from Ward himself.
"Regarding CB Charvarius Ward, who revealed last month he was strongly considering retirement after a series of concussions, I heard from him recently, and he was legitimately reconsidering that stance," Holder posted on X. "Have not heard a final decision, but that remains fluid."
Ward suffered a concussion in Week 1 that caused him to miss Week 2. He played again in Weeks 3, 4, and 5 before being involved in a freak accident on the field before Week 6, when he and tight end Drew Ogletree collided during warmups, knocking Ward unconscious and afflicting him with another concussion. Ward went on Injured Reserve at that point and didn't return until Week 12. He played another three games before suffering yet another concussion and going on IR again, to end his season.
While Ward missed 10 games, when he was on the field, he was a standout performer and delivered the kind of play the Colts envisioned.
According to Pro Football Focus, Ward was the eighth-best corner in football in 2025, with a grade of 77.1, just one slot ahead of teammate Sauce Gardner, whose 76.9 ranked ninth.
In seven games, Ward had 25 tackles, a fumble recovery, and seven pass breakups. He was targeted 37 times and gave up 21 catches (56.8%), including zero touchdowns, for an average opponent passer rating of 81.6.
Regardless of whether Ward returns in 2026, the Colts would be wise to have a backup plan in place. They did acquire Gardner at the trade deadline last year to pair with Ward, and rookie Justin Walley will return from a torn ACL, but having a fully stocked cupboard of cornerbacks is clearly a priority for this team.
Jake Arthur has been covering the Indianapolis Colts for over a dozen years and is a member of the PFWA. He's one half of the Locked On Colts podcast and has worked for the Colts' official website, On SI, and more. You can follow him on X @JakeArthurNFL.