Indianapolis, IN — Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen revealed to local media this morning that defenders Charvarius Ward and Jaylon Carlies have both been designated to return from injured reserve, opening their 21-day practice window. They can be activated at any time over the next three weeks.
Lou Anarumo’s defense will potentially add a huge boost to its already strong defensive backfield if Charvarius Ward can go this Sunday. He’ll need all the help he can get with another highly anticipated
matchup against the Chiefs’ offense led by Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid.
Ward, who suffered his IR-worthy concussion in a pre-game warmup mishap in Week 6, remains in concussion protocol. For additional context, this concussion was his second of the season after sustaining a concussion in the team’s season opener; therefore, the Colts have been patient with Ward — understandably so. Barring no setbacks, he’s expected to be activated.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard recently made headlines by trading a haul for lockdown cornerback Sauce Gardner, and the mere idea of pairing him with Ward should instill fear into opposing QB/WR tandems across the league. Adding longtime Colts star corner and team captain Kenny Moore II only strengthens such potential.
Head coach Shane Steichen on this very phenomenon:
“When you’ve got two legit corners on the outside, it helps your defense big time…both of those guys are really good players, and when you’ve got two really good corners, obviously it makes it tough on the offense.”
The Colts’ defense could always use Ward’s services, but they especially would benefit from adding him back to the mix since DT DeForest Buckner remains on IR as he works through a neck injury. Given we’ve heard both Steichen and Anarumo mention this season how coverage in the backend plays in tandem with the pass rush up front, shoring up the passing game in coverage will be crucial.
Thankfully for Lou Anarumo, the Colts have a stable of horses in the backend to pull off a masterclass. If Ward plays this Sunday, Patrick Mahomes and this Chiefs offense will be the first to go against Indy’s new-look defensive backfield at full strength: CB Sauce Gardner, CB Charvarius Ward, CB Kenny Moore II, FS Camryn Bynum, SS Nick Cross
Meanwhile, LB Jaylon Carlies is set to return to action for the first time this regular season. Carlies missed the spring’s offseason program and then a big portion of training camp with an ankle injury. On roster cutdown day back in August, Carlies was placed on injured reserve with a designation to return. Heading into summer festivities, it was penciled in that Carlies would start alongside team captain Zaire Franklin, but his lingering injury resulted in career special teamer Joe Bachie taking over before the team signed veteran Germaine Pratt, the de facto starter ever since.
