INDIANAPOLIS — Veteran cornerback Xavien Howard signed with the Indianapolis Colts in August hoping to revive his career after a year away from the NFL.

Now, after four games, the four-time Pro Bowl selection has decided to abruptly reverse course.

Howard, 32, informed the Colts on Wednesday of his decision to retire on the heels of a much-criticized performance against the Los Angeles Rams and star receiver Puka Nacua on Sunday. Howard was not at practice Wednesday, but the team’s injury report indicated he was absent because of a personal matter.

In a statement posted to social media, Howard wrote that “my dream has now changed” and he is “no longer willing” to put football before his family.

“My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football,” he wrote. “I’ve had a hell of a career, and even though it’s ending in a unique way, I’m cool with that because for once I’m putting my family first and I’m proud and excited about that decision.”

Coach Shane Steichen and defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo had fielded repeated questions since the game about their intentions moving forward with Howard, who had been starting as an outside cornerback for Indianapolis since Week 1. Neither coach indicated any plan to make a lineup change.

Asked Wednesday whether he might discuss a personnel change, Steichen left the door open for Howard to remain in the lineup. There was no indication the Colts were considering releasing Howard prior to his retirement decision.

“As the head coach, obviously, I have final decision on all those things and we have those conversations throughout the week,” Steichen said. “Looking back, too, with Xavien, those were two elite receivers [Nacua and Davante Adams] that we were going up against last week. So, again, we’ll go through the process this week and evaluate everything like we do every week.”

Howard’s struggles Sunday were inexplicable. According to Next-Gen Stats, he was the nearest defender on seven receptions that produced 112 yards and a touchdown. The Colts elected to use No. 1 cornerback Charvarius Ward mostly against Adams, but Adams also made a play during one of his rare snaps lined up against Howard. Nacua finished with 13 catches for 170 yards — both season highs.

Asked after the Rams game whether he felt quarterback Matthew Stafford was targeting him, Howard said, “I don’t. It’s football at the end of the day.” Asked to evaluate his performance, he said, “Not to my ability.”

The struggles in Los Angeles followed a tough outing in Week 2 against the Denver Broncos, when Howard was flagged twice for pass interference and once for defensive holding.

In spite of his ending, Howard walks away from the NFL with an impressive track record. He twice led the NFL in interceptions during his time with the Miami Dolphins, who drafted him in the second round in 2016. In 2020, when he had a career year with league highs in interceptions (10) and passes defensed (20), he was a first-team All-Pro and a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year.

Howard has 29 career interceptions, third among active players behind Harrison Smith and Kevin Byard III. He started 103 career games.

Turkish club Galatasaray followed its huge victory over Liverpool on Tuesday with a simple troll aimed at the English club.

Galatasaray stunned Liverpool with a 1-0 win in the UEFA Champions League league phase. Victor Osimhen netted home a first-half penalty in a matchup in which Liverpool dominated possession (67.1% to 32.9%) and shot attempts (16-9).

But Galatasaray was able to hold on, securing its first victory of the competition. The club then proceeded to relay a simple troll aimed at Liverpool, captioning its post: “You’ll never walk alone, but sometimes you walk out without points.”

You’ll never walk alone, but sometimes you walk out without points 🤷‍♂️#UCL pic.twitter.com/oFsyQ2xfSv

— Galatasaray EN (@Galatasaray) September 30, 2025

Since the 1960s, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” by Gerry and the Pacemakers has served as Liverpool’s famous anthem, sung by Kopites alike around the world. The motto appears on the top of the club’s badge.

The “Shankly Gates” — built in honor of legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly — also feature the phrase.

Tuesday’s defeat marked Liverpool’s second in a row, with the club set to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

During her end-of-season media availability on Tuesday, Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier expressed her grievances with the WNBA’s leadership.

Collier criticized league Commissioner Cathy Engelbert, suggesting she had been “negligent” in her stewardship. “We have the best players in the world. We have the best fans in the world, but right now we have the worst leadership in the world,” Collier said in a prepared statement.

Commentator Stephen A. Smith backed Collier and urged Engelbert to resign from her leadership role. “I want to know how the hell somebody said something like that about you as the commissioner,” Smith said on the latest edition of ESPN’s “First Take.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

“Whether it was David Stern or Adam Silver or Roger Goodell or Paul Tagliabue, could you imagine? Imagine a commissioner being called out like that directly, and that timid, tepid statement. She looks guilty as hell. And then I’m looking at it, I’m saying, Did you really say that? Did you really say that Caitlin Clark should thank the heavenly stars that she wouldn’t be worth anything if she wasn’t playing in the WNBA? Did you really say that? I’m sitting back on like this girl … I’m listening, because she got very, very specific.”

LYNX’S NAPHEESA COLLIER RAILS AGAINST WNBA LEADERSHIP, CALLS FOR OFFICIATING CHANGES

Smith also suggested Engelbert had positioned herself in such a manner that she would be unable to negotiate in good faith going forward. The looming offseason will likely be defined by the outcome of collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the league and the players’ association.

“And for the commissioner to come back with that, you can’t have her at the negotiating table talking to players, basically Collier said she’s in the way of our growth and our development as a league, not just on the player side, but on the league side. She’s not good for basketball. Nobody questioned Cathy Engelbert’s business acumen now, because we know she knows business … At the end of the day, you have a star player in the league saying the commissioner, this individual, is in the way of all of us. And that was her statement. I believe she should hand in her resignation.”

Stephen A. Smith looks on before a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics on Nov. 19, 2021, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Collier, the vice president of the WNBPA, rebuked Engelbert on several fronts. She expressed frustration over WNBA officiating, citing the injury she suffered in the Lynx’s semifinal series against the Phoenix Mercury. Referees did not whistle Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas for a foul after she made contact with Collier. The non-call prompted a strong reaction from Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve.

After an on-court confrontation with officials, Reeve was ejected. She was later fined by the WNBA for criticizing referees and accusing leadership of committing “malpractice” for allowing the officials to call the playoff game.

Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve looks on in the third quarter of their game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob Ultra Arena on Aug. 2, 2025. (Candice Ward/ Imagn Images)

“If this is what the league wants, OK, but I want to call for a change of leadership at the league level when it comes to officiating,” Reeve said after the Lynx’s 84-76 loss last Friday. “The officiating crew that we had tonight, for the leadership to deem those three people semifinal-playoff worthy, it’s f—ing malpractice.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Engelbert has been commissioner since 2019.

On Tuesday, the WNBA announced it reached an 11-year media rights deal with USA Network. The agreement gives the cable network the broadcast rights to at least 50 games per season beginning in 2026. USA will also carry select playoff games and the WNBA Finals.

The WNBA and NBA previously announced an 11-year agreement with NBCUniversal, The Walt Disney Co. and Amazon.

“Partnering with VERSANT and USA Network marks another significant milestone for the WNBA’s continued growth,” Engelbert said in part in a statement. Earlier this year, NBC Universal unveiled plans to spin off USA Network and other cable assets into a new company, which is expected to be called Versant.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.