INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts defense could get two pieces back in the lineup against Kansas City
Indianapolis is designating starting cornerback Charvarius Ward and second-year linebacker Jaylon Carlies to return from injured reserve, opening a 21-day practice window for both players to return that begins with Wednesday’s practice.
Ward has missed the past five games due to a concussion suffered in an accidental pregame collision with Indianapolis tight end Drew Ogletree. The Colts placed Ward on injured reserve at the time because it was Ward’s second concussion in a short amount of time.
The team’s No. 1 cornerback before the blockbuster trade for Sauce Gardner, Ward was working with trainers on the practice field before Indianapolis’ trip to Berlin two weeks ago.
“He’s closer,” Steichen said. “He’s still in the protocol, he’s still got to clear the protocol, but he’ll practice today. He’s been getting some work in on the side with the training staff. Looking forward to getting him back out there this week.”
A healthy Ward would allow defensive coordinator to pair the veteran with Gardner, giving Indianapolis the ability to play man-to-man coverage on the outside with both players.
For much of the season, injuries at cornerback left the Colts trying to overcome youthful mistakes at the position.
Pairing Ward and Gardner together transforms the defense for the second half.
“When you’ve got two legit corners on the outside, obviously, it helps your defense big-time,” Steichen said.
Carlies may take a little longer to get back in the lineup.
The second-year linebacker was initially expected to be the team’s starter on the weak side, but he missed most of the offseason due to shoulder surgery stemming from an injury suffered last season as a rookie. Carlies also missed seven games with a broken fibula as a rookie, then after he got back in the lineup in training camp, he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery.
Carlies has now missed the first 10 games of the season, and the Colts signed veteran Germaine Pratt to play the weak side, altering the linebacker picture. If he’s healthy, the former Missouri safety is the type of coverage linebacker the Colts haven’t had, but he’s struggled with injuries for years now.
“We’ll see how the week goes,” Steichen said. “Obviously, we’ll get him back out there. It’s been a long time since he’s been out there, so we’ll get him out there on the practice field this week and see how it goes.”
Indianapolis will likely get a few more players back against Kansas City.
Veteran defensive end Samson Ebukam will practice Wednesday after missing the last three games with a knee injury, and return man Anthony Gould is also expected to practice after missing two games with a knee injury of his own.
Fellow defensive end Tyquan Lewis has missed the last three games with a groin injury, and at one point he was a full participant in practice on back-to-back days, but the injury hasn’t responded in a way that will allow him to practice on Wednesday.
Lewis’ injury has lingered, leaving the Colts a little thin on the defensive line, considering that defensive tackle DeForest Buckner is on injured reserve with a neck injury.
“It just wasn’t there yet,” Steichen said.
But the Colts do seem to be healthier after the bye week, heading into a showdown with a Chiefs team that has been the class of the AFC for years.
Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.