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.
Check out photos from the Indianapolis Colts' practice at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center as they prepare to face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 at Arrowhead Stadium.
LB Austin Ajiake #58
QB Riley Leonard #15
QB Daniel Jones #17
LB Jaylon Carlies #57
DE JT Tuimoloau #91 and DE Laiatu Latu #97
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
K Michael Badgley #12
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Germaine Pratt #53
LB Austin Ajiake #58
LB Jaylon Carlies #57
DT Adetomiwa Adebawore #95
DE Kwity Paye #51
RB DJ Giddens #21
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Tyler Goodson #31
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
DE Laiatu Latu #97
S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Charvarius Ward #7
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Charvarius Ward #7, CB Sauce Gardner #1 and CB Mekhi Blackmon #29
S George Odum #39
S George Odum #39
CB Sauce Gardner #1
S Nick Cross #20
CB Jaylon Jones #40
S Camryn Bynum #0
CB Sauce Gardner #1
QB Riley Leonard #15 and RB Tyler Goodson #31
RB DJ Giddens #21
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
WR Coleman Owen #9
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR Alec Pierce #14
QB Daniel Jones #17
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
RB Ameer Abdullah #26
RB Ameer Abdullah #26
RB Tyler Goodson #31
RB Ulysses Bentley IV #37
CB Jaylon Jones #40
S Rodney Thomas II #25
S Ben Nikkel #34
WR Laquon Treadwell #13
WR Ashton Dulin #16
RB Jonathan Taylor #28
CB Chris Lammons #38
LB Anthony Walker #54
DE Laiatu Latu #97
LB Zaire Franklin #44
CB Charvarius Ward #7
CB Sauce Gardner #1
CB Sauce Gardner #1
RB Anthony Walker Jr. #54
DE Kwity Paye #51
DE Laiatu Latu #97
DT Neville Gallimore #92
DT Chris Wormley #96
DT Grover Stewart #90
DT Neville Gallimore #92
CB Chris Lammons #38
WR Alec Pierce #14
S Trey Washington #41
LB Jacob Phillips #54, LB Austin Ajiake #58 and LB Germaine Pratt #53
WR D.J. Montgomery #2
LB Jaylon Carlies #57
LB Segun Olubi #50
LB Segun Olubi #50
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Alec Pierce #14
LB Zaire Franklin #44
LB Germaine Pratt #53
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Laquon Treadwell #13
DT Tim Smith #93 and DT Grover Stewart #90
WR Josh Downs #2
WR Eli Pancol#83
Shane Steichen Head Coach
QB Daniel Jones #17
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Tyler Warren #84
TE Drew Ogletree #85
WR Michael Pittman Jr. #11
WR Alec Pierce #14
WR Josh Downs #2
DT Neville Gallimore #92
DE Viliami Fehoko Jr. #96
DE Kwity Paye #51
WR Josh Downs #2
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.
