Though Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward is following a similar path to the one he did last summer, he insists that he’s fine and that each concussion is different.
And though Ward said he appreciates the concern from fans in the wake of his fifth known concussion since he entered the league in 2018, he said he’s focused on preparing for the season ahead and has not considered retiring from football.
After suffering a concussion on Aug. 12 that ended his training camp, Ward returned to practice Wednesday as part of completing the NFL’s concussion protocol. He was fully cleared Thursday, and he said he’s excited about turning his attention to his matchup with “one of the best,” Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, in Cleveland’s Sept. 8 season opener.
“I love playing this game,” Ward said. “I really don’t see myself stepping away from this game anytime soon. I can’t let the receivers off that easy in this league. I’m looking forward to being out there and giving them a hard time.”
.@denzelward is “looking forward” to our Week 1 matchup ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/2uldq6OYV3
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) August 29, 2024
Ward, the No. 4 pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and a native Northeast Ohioan, has 15 career interceptions and last year was named to his third Pro Bowl. On Thursday, he was elected team captain by his peers for the first time as Browns coach Kevin Stefanski concluded the work week by announcing Ward, Myles Garrett, Deshaun Watson, Joel Bitonio and Charley Hughlett as captains.
“I feel very proud of that, but I always felt like I was a captain,” Ward said. “I’ve always told the (other) guys you don’t need the ‘C’ to lead. Logo or not, I try to be myself and try to lead and try to help this team win games.”
After suffering a concussion in last year’s preseason finale, Ward was sidelined for about 10 days but participated in two practices before returning. Though Ward told reporters Thursday that he was “not going to give a seminar on concussions,” he repeatedly said he’s done his research and met with trusted doctors. He believes he still will play at a high level — and for a long time — without fear of a long-term or even temporary injury.
“I’m not too concerned about it,” Ward said. “People worry about the number (of concussions) I’ve had, but I can’t let that affect me.
“I feel good. I’m excited for the season. I’m a football player, and I’m doing what I’ve loved to do since I was a little kid. I don’t think about getting hurt when I go out there. It’s not too hard for me to put it behind me.”
Ward was wearing a protective Guardian cap when he suffered his most recent concussion. New NFL rules mandated that players in training camp either wore the Guardian cap or one of the six new helmet models that, according to research by the league and NFL Players Association, provide equal or better protection.
Ward said he won’t wear a Guardian cap during the regular season but will switch to one of the approved helmets, one that came with multiple referrals, he said. He also said he understands the problems some NFL players from previous generations have had with long-term concussion effects, but added that his conversations with medical experts and research on the subject make him believe he won’t have similar issues.
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“A lot of the information (about concussions) from back in the day is a lot different than the knowledge and information we have now,” Ward said. “Also, back then you got a concussion and you were going right back in the game. It’s a lot better now than it (was) before. I’m not really too concerned about it.”
Ward said he had a headache on the day he suffered his most recent concussion but felt better the next day. He made at least brief appearances on the practice field later that week as his teammates went through joint practices against the Minnesota Vikings.
“I was pretty much good after (that day),” Ward said. “It was just about going through the protocol. There was no rush back because we weren’t playing regular-season games. I was pretty much good, I just wasn’t going to rush back.”
Earlier this month, Ward’s mother and brother joined him for a two-hour trip to visit a concussion specialist at UPMC in Pittsburgh. Ward said bringing his family on the trip was about “easing their minds,” and that the visit and subsequent conversations left him feeling confident about his football future.
“I love playing this game,” he said. “I don’t feel pressure to get back. I’m enjoying doing every second of this and I feel good about everything.”
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(Photo: Ken Blaze / USA Today)
