Colts' Howard retires on heels of Rams showing

INDIANAPOLIS -- Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard signed with the Indianapolis Colts successful August hoping to revive his vocation aft a twelvemonth distant from the NFL.

Now, aft 4 games, the four-time Pro Bowl enactment has decided to abruptly reverse course.

Howard, 32, informed the Colts connected Wednesday of his determination to discontinue connected the heels of a much-criticized show against the Los Angeles Rams and prima receiver Puka Nacua connected Sunday. Howard was not astatine signifier Wednesday, but the team's wounded study indicated helium was absent due to the fact that of a idiosyncratic matter.

Coach Shane Steichen and antiaircraft coordinator Lou Anarumo had fielded repeated questions since the crippled astir their intentions moving guardant with Howard, who had been starting arsenic an extracurricular cornerback for Indianapolis since Week 1. Neither manager indicated immoderate program to marque a lineup change.

Asked Wednesday whether helium mightiness sermon a unit change, Steichen near the doorway unfastened for Howard to stay successful the lineup. There was nary denotation the Colts were considering releasing Howard anterior to his status decision.

"As the caput coach, obviously, I person last determination connected each those things and we person those conversations passim the week," Steichen said. "Looking back, too, with Xavien, those were 2 elite receivers [Nacua and Davante Adams] that we were going up against past week. So, again, we'll spell done the process this week and measure everything similar we bash each week."

Howard's struggles Sunday were inexplicable. According to Next-Gen Stats, helium was the nearest defender connected 7 receptions that produced 112 yards and a touchdown. The Colts elected to usage No. 1 cornerback Charvarius Ward mostly against Adams, but Adams besides made a play during 1 of his uncommon snaps lined up against Howard. Nacua finished with 13 catches for 170 yards -- some play highs.

Asked aft the Rams crippled whether helium felt backmost Matthew Stafford was targeting him, Howard said, "I don't. It's shot astatine the extremity of the day." Asked to measure his performance, helium said, "Not to my ability."

The struggles successful Los Angeles followed a pugnacious outing successful Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, erstwhile Howard was flagged doubly for walk interference and erstwhile for antiaircraft holding.

In spite of his ending, Howard walks distant from the NFL with an awesome way record. He doubly led the NFL successful interceptions during his clip with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him successful the 2nd circular successful 2016. In 2020, erstwhile helium had a vocation twelvemonth with league highs successful interceptions (10) and passes defensed (20), helium was a first-team All-Pro and a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.

Howard has 29 vocation interceptions, 3rd among progressive players down Harrison Smith and Read Entire Article