WESTFIELD, Ind. — Charvarius Ward Sr. is used to playing defense, so when his son reached for the mic Thursday during his post-practice news conference, the Indianapolis Colts cornerback quickly swiped his hand away. A smile flashed across Ward’s face as he held Charvarius Jr., with his fiancée (Junior’s mom) just a few feet away.Months ago, Ward couldn’t envision that cute moment as he contemplated his football future.“I was probably like 85 percent sure I was gonna retire,” Ward said. “But I found a different ‘why,’ a different purpose. Doing it for Junior (my son), doing it for my daughter, Amani. They bring me joy. … They put me in like a very emotional mental state to come out here and play.”
Charvarius Ward Sr. on his second #Colts camp:
“It felt like I belong out here. I was probably like 85% sure I was gonna retire. But I found a different ‘why,’ a different purpose. Doing it for Jr., doing it for Amani, my daughter (who passed away). They bring me joy. …” pic.twitter.com/2T20KMzMV0
— James Boyd (@RomeovilleKid) July 30, 2026Ward’s daughter, Amani, died in October 2024 due to heart issues, yet he still talks about her in the present. He’s been very candid about navigating her death, even admitting in the spring that during last year’s training camp, his mind and heart weren’t really into football. His struggles were only compounded by suffering three concussions in his first season with the Colts. The trauma, on and off the field, made him think about walking away from the game.“You can talk to my girl; you can talk to my mom; you can talk to my agent,” Ward said. “I was pretty sure I was done.”Ward said in the spring that he’s talked to professional therapists to help him better cope with the loss of his daughter. But from a football perspective, he added Thursday that it wasn’t until he started training again that his “spirit was lifted and boosted” enough for him to return to the field.The flashes Ward has displayed throughout the Colts’ first two training camp practices have been exciting for a defense that needs Ward at the peak of his powers. The 2023 second-team All-Pro, who said he’s wearing a “new-and-improved” helmet and will consider wearing a Guardian Cap as well, has been stifling in coverage alongside fellow outside cornerback Sauce Gardner. On Tuesday, the two produced pass breakups on back-to-back plays, which Ward warned was only a glimpse of their potential.“Honestly, man, we’re two of the best in the world,” Ward said. “I don’t really want to make any crazy predictions, but I feel like we can be the deepest and the best secondary in the league.”Daniel Jones is back on the field after Achilles surgeryJames BoydColts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo praised Ward and Gardner, a two-time first-team All-Pro, as proven playmakers in the secondary, and Ward is eager to prove himself again. The 30-year-old, who went undrafted in 2018, said he’s already accomplished all he dreamed of in the NFL by securing two life-changing contracts and winning the Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2019 season. Now, after being limited to a career-low seven games last year due to repeated concussions, Ward said his goal is to play free and fearlessly.“I’m not worried about giving up a touchdown, because I went through the worst stuff imaginable that anybody can go through — losing a child,” Ward said. “That was bad. Giving up a touchdown, giving up a catch, that’s not bad to me anymore. I feel like I have nothing to lose anymore, so (I) just go out (there) and have fun and ball out.”With his first pickDaniel Jones took all of the first-team QB reps for the second straight day of Colts camp. The veteran was sharp for the most part, completing seven of his nine passes in 11-on-11 drills. However, he was intercepted by linebacker Austin Ajiake. As Jones rolled to his right, he faced heavy pressure from defensive end Laiatu Latu, who likely would’ve sacked him in a real game. After Latu eased up, Jones tried to sneak as pass in near the sideline, but Ajiake made him pay by jumping the route and picking off the pass.Backup quarterbacks Riley Leonard and Anthony Richardson Sr. continued splitting reps, but they flip-flopped Thursday, with Leonard being the first to step in behind Jones after Richardson went first Wednesday. Leonard finished 4-of-5 passing Thursday while Richardson was 3-of-4. Richardson was picked off in seven-on-sevens by cornerback Cameron Mitchell after throwing a pass that was slightly high to rookie wide receiver Deion Burks. The ball went through Burks’ hands and probably should’ve been caught, but the miscue led to an easy interception for Mitchell.Wohler and Walley’s starting repsSecond-year defensive backs Hunter Wohler and Justin Walley didn’t play last year due to a Lisfranc injury and torn ACL, respectively, but they’ve already appeared to make up for lost time. Both players have played primarily with the first-team defense through the first two days of camp practice. Wohler has started at the strong safety spot opposite of free safety Cam Bynum, while Walley has manned the slot.Anarumo said no one should read too much into Wohler, a 2025 seventh-round pick, playing first-string reps over rookie second-round pick A.J. Haulcy. The plan is to “roll certain guys (on) certain days,” the coordinator explained, so Haulcy will likely get a shot with the starters soon. Anarumo was much more bullish on Walley, a 2025 third-round pick, who’s poised to replace 2021 Pro Bowler Kenny Moore II as the team’s top nickelback.“Walley’s picked up where he left off last year,” Anarumo said. “I’m a big Walley fan.”A few more nuggets• Rookie fourth-round pick Bryce Boettcher continues to take starting linebacker reps in the absence of rookie second-round pick CJ Allen (calf).• Defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (neck surgery) has only taken part in individual drills so far as he gets reacclimated to practice.• Wide receiver Alec Pierce (left ankle surgery) spent time on the sideline talking to his position coach/Colts legend, Reggie Wayne. The two briefly played catch together for the second straight day, only throwing stationary passes from about 5 yards apart. Notably, Pierce is no longer walking with a limp like he was in the spring. Colts GM Chris Ballard said Tuesday that his team’s top wideout is one or two weeks away from practicing.
