Xavien Howard, 32, retires after four games with the Colts, choosing family over football and ending a career that included two NFL interception titles with Miami. The abrupt move leaves Indy’s boundary depth thinner as they brace for upcoming aerial attacks.

Charvarius Ward steps into a larger role, and fantasy managers should monitor Indy’s reshaped secondary as they face a slate of high-end receivers. The Rams game underscored the challenge, but the decision also reframes how Colts’ pass defense is valued going forward.

Colts cornerback Xavien Howard has retired and been placed on the reserve/retired list, opening an outside-corner vacancy just before Week 5. Indianapolis signed Trey Washington from the practice squad to the 53-man roster to fill the spot. Howard started for Indy this season but has been targeted heavily in two of four games, including a 112-yard, TD outing against the Rams. The team will evaluate options, with Mekhi Blackmon or Johnathan Edwards as likely next men up.

Shaquille Leonard retires as a Colt, closing a six‑year run that defined Indy’s defense. A 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year and three‑time All‑Pro, he piled up 614 tackles in 70 games with the Colts, plus 17 forced fumbles. Injuries curtailed 2022 and a 2023 release followed by a brief Eagles stint, but his leadership and playmaking left a lasting mark on the franchise and fantasy circles.

Indy will honor him at halftime against the Raiders, a moment that underscores how one defender can shape a franchise’s identity and fantasy outlook. Leonard’s departure signals a leadership void and a chance for younger linebackers to rise, while the Colts recalibrate to preserve disruption on early downs and run defense.