During the 2025 season, the Indianapolis Colts didn't have a consistently healthy Charvarius Ward. Unfortunately, he was suffering one concussion after another (three in total), and that limited his availability while he and fans also likely worried about his long-term health.
After spending part of the offseason wondering if he wanted to keep playing or simply retire, Mooney Ward chose to return, but he has been limited in training camp so far. He missed nearly three weeks with a bad back. The issue doesn't appear on the verge of going away quickly.
Speaking with the media on Wednesday, Ward said he expected to play in Week 1 on Sunday, September 13, against the Baltimore Ravens, but the back issue is something that will need to be "managed." In other words, he could be great one week, but then miss a lot of practices in hopes of being able to play in the next game.
Indianapolis Colts' Charvarius Ward has a back problem that will need to be managed
The cornerback has spent eight seasons in the NFL and is now 30 years old. That isn't old for a human being, of course, but for someone who has had to withstand the punishment of a collision sport for most of his life, a back problem isn't likely to fade.
Hopefully, he can manage the pain well enough so that he isn't getting more hurt by playing a sport. If he can play, he will, of course, and he has proven that. He kept returning from concussions even when many might have called it a season. Ward's toughness isn't in question.
But as a person, no one wants him to suffer constant pain. The other side of that is that with a back injury, one doesn't know from day to day how the pain will be. He could be fine one day and terrible the next.
Maybe Ward doesn't suffer any more concussions, and he can play through whatever back pain he has this season, though what happens after the season is over might be in question. He signed a three-year deal in 2025, so his current contract pays him through 2027. He has no guaranteed money next season, so he wouldn't necessarily lose out financially if he retired after 2026.
Or, more positively, Charvarius Ward plays all 17 games for the Indianapolis Colts this season and is perfectly healthy while doing so, while helping the team make the playoffs. He returns in 2027, and rinses and repeats the 2026 season, and all is good in Indy. Ward deserves that to happen.
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