It's just Week 2, but the Colts' cornerback depth is already being put to the test.

Veteran Charvarius Ward Sr. did not practice Thursday as he remains in the NFL concussion protocol after reporting symptoms Monday following the Colts' 33-8 Week 1 win over the Miami Dolphins. We'll learn more about Ward's status on Friday, when the Colts' final practice report (which includes game status designations) of Week 2 comes out.

The Colts are preparing to be without cornerback Jaylon Jones "for a while," head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday, after he sustained a hamstring injury in Week 1. Jones missed a large chunk of training camp with an injury to the same hamstring.

Without Jones and possibly Ward, the Colts will lean on the depth they have in a cornerback room that was almost completely overhauled in the offseason – right up to roster cut-down day.

Veteran Xavien Howard played 31 of the Colts' 38 non-garbage-time defensive snaps on Sunday, his first game since New Year's Eve 2023. His 80.0 Pro Football Focus defensive grade was third-highest on the Colts and the highest among the team's cornerbacks; he was targeted twice in coverage and did not allow a reception.

Howard, though, was already a starter. If Ward's concussion prevents him from being cleared for Sunday, the Colts could look to Mekhi Blackmon, a 2023 third-round pick who the Colts acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings in August.

Blackmon on Sunday played 20 snaps, including nine before garbage time, and did not allow a reception on the one time he was targeted in coverage.

"He brings an element of speed to the group," defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. "He's a good cover guy, sticky, he's fearless. He was on Tyreek (Hill) a couple times and he didn't flinch. So, we went into the game knowing that we couldn't let No. 17 (Jaylen Waddle) and No. 10 (Hill) do what they normally do. And fortunately, we were able to do that. He was a big part of that."

The other guy who could factor here is undrafted rookie Johnathan Edwards, who was inactive for Week 1 but earned his way on to the Colts' roster with an impressive training camp and preseason.

"I think he did a lot of really good things this preseason," general manager Chris Ballard said in August. "He's big, he's a good athlete, he can run, he's conscientious, he's tough. There's a lot of great qualities that I think Edwards has."

Taking out those end-of-the-game garbage time snaps – after the Colts and Dolphins pulled a handful of their starters, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa – the Colts' defense allowed the lowest passer rating (38.1) in the NFL in Week 1. And while Broncos quarterback Bo Nix managed just a 60.0 passer rating in Denver's season opener against the Tennessee Titans, his 93.3 passer rating in 2024 – the fourth-highest mark for a rookie quarterback with 10+ starts in the last five seasons.

And Nix's head coach, of course, is Sean Payton – one of the most widely-respected offensive minds not just in the NFL today, but in NFL history. The Colts' secondary, no matter who's playing, will have to be up to the challenge on Sunday.

"(Payton's) been doing it at a high level for so long," Anarumo said. "He's just always changing within the game – going to have things specific to your team that he's playing against. Does just a great job calling the game and trying to keep you off balance. Ultimate respect there for sure."

Thursday's practice report