Xavien Howard Joins Colts After Missed Season with Dolphins
Big news in the NFL today as former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard has officially signed with the Indianapolis Colts. The deal is for one year and could be worth up to $5 million, giving Howard a fresh start after sitting out the entire 2024 season.
Howard’s career with the Dolphins spanned from 2016 to 2023, and during that time he earned four Pro Bowl selections and twice led the league in interceptions, with seven in 2018 and ten in 2020. He was a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, selected after Miami traded up from 40th to 36th overall. Over 100 games with the Dolphins, Howard recorded 29 interceptions, 45 tackles, and multiple passes defended in his final season. Unfortunately, a Lisfranc injury sustained at the end of 2023 lingered into 2024, keeping him off the field and ultimately leading to his release by Miami in March 2024.
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Despite sitting out last season, Howard had worked out for the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys, but a deal never materialized. Now, the Colts are bringing him in to fill a pressing need in their cornerback room, which has been severely impacted by injuries. Veteran slot corner Kenny Moore II is recovering from a knee issue, rookie Justin Walley suffered a torn ACL, and third-year corners Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents are sidelined with hamstring injuries. Even undrafted free agent Johnathan Edwards was lost to a concussion during the preseason. Clearly, the Colts’ depth at cornerback has been decimated, and Howard is expected to immediately contribute.
For the Dolphins, Howard’s departure is part of a larger reshaping of their cornerback corps. After releasing Howard and losing Kendall Fuller, trading Jalen Ramsey, and seeing Kader Kohou sidelined with a training camp knee injury, Miami went forward with a mix of veterans and younger players like Storm Duck, Kendall Sheffield, Jason Marshall Jr., Ethan Bonner, Cam Smith, Mike Hilton, and Jack Jones Jr. Interestingly, Howard will face his former team and former teammate Ramsey in two key matchups this season, including the season opener and a Monday Night Football game in Pittsburgh.
All in all, Howard’s journey from Miami to Indianapolis represents both a second chance for him and a strategic move by the Colts to stabilize a cornerback group ravaged by injuries. Fans will be watching closely to see if Howard can return to the elite form that made him one of the NFL’s top defensive backs.
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