The Colts on Wednesday opened 21-day practice windows for cornerback Charvarius Ward Sr. and linebacker Jaylon Carlies, meaning both players can begin participating in practice and can be activated from injured reserve at any point over the next three weeks.
Ward still has to clear concussion protocol, head coach Shane Steichen said.
The Colts placed Ward on injured reserve prior to their Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Chargers after the veteran cornerback sustained a concussion in pregame warmups prior to the Colts' Week 6 win over the Arizona Cardinals.
Being placed on injured reserve meant Ward had to miss the Colts' next four games (Weeks 7-10); the earliest he could be activated from injured reserve is Sunday's Week 12 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, as the Colts had a bye in Week 11. Players placed on injured reserve must miss a minimum of four games, not four weeks – which is why defensive tackle DeForest Buckner, who was placed on injured reserve prior to Week 10, will not be eligible to return until Week 15.
The concussion Ward sustained on Oct. 19 was his second of the 2025 season. Ward sustained a concussion in the Colts' season opener against the Miami Dolphins and missed the Colts' Week 2 win over the Denver Broncos.
If Ward is able to make it back for Sunday's game against Patrick Mahomes' Chiefs, it'd be the Colts' first opportunity to roll out a secondary of Ward, Kenny Moore II and Sauce Gardner at cornerback and Cam Bynum and Nick Cross at safety.
Carlies was placed on injured reserve on roster cut-down day in August with a designation to return this season. The second-year linebacker from Mizzou missed this spring's offseason program and missed a chunk of training camp with an ankle injury. The Colts had expected Carlies to compete to play at Will linebacker next to Zaire Franklin, and his injury opened playing time for Joe Bachie and Cameron McGrone, both of whom have since been released by the Colts.
Veteran Germaine Pratt was signed by the Colts prior to Week 6, and he's started each of the Colts' last five games at Will linebacker.
Check back later Wednesday for the Colts' first full practice report for Week 12.
