Former Dolphins CB Xavien Howard cleared for football activities

<div><figure> <img alt="NFL: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/_-FIJ6qD-uGpstw7Bkamm2zKudw=/0x0:3602x2401/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73302753/usa_today_21447292.0.jpg"> <figcaption>Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption> </figure> <p>Xavien Howard slammed the door shut on a return to Miami in March after being released. </p> <p id="RVQ3Bl">Former <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Miami Dolphins</a> cornerback Xavien Howard saw his 2023 campaign prematurely end due to a foot injury against the <a href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> in Week 17. Four months later, the four-time <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-pro-bowl">Pro Bowl</a> cornerback is ready to turn the page to 2024. </p> <p id="7vSAoo">NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that Howard’s doctor penned — or typed — a letter to teams that the 2020 first-team All-Pro was cleared to resume football activities. </p> <div id="QNCuZ2"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Four-time Pro Bowl CB Xavien Howard was fully cleared for football activities earlier this month, his doctor informed teams in a letter. <br><br>Howard, who’s a free agent, battled a foot injury throughout last season. Some potential post-draft help incoming. <a href="https://t.co/5qsPqcfPUy">pic.twitter.com/5qsPqcfPUy</a></p>— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1783100938909053119?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2024</a> </blockquote> </div> <p id="LAejSB">Howard, 30, made 45 tackles, defended eight passes, and intercepted one ball throughout his 13-game 2023 season. He played just four snaps in Week 17 before suffering the season-ending injury. </p> <p id="MLTeTU">The Dolphins <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/2024/2/26/24082904/moving-on-from-miami-dolphins-cornerback-xavien-howard">released Howard early in the offseason</a>. They designated him as a post-June 1 cut because of a <a href="https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/miami-dolphins">projected $25.9 million cap hit</a> — which would’ve been Miami’s second-highest behind only Tyreek Hill. </p> <p id="pIOydm">Opposing quarterbacks threw just <a href="https://premium.pff.com/nfl/players/2023/REGPO/xavien-howard/10672/defense">two touchdown passes while targetting</a> Howard in coverage last season. He spent eight seasons with the Dolphins but still has gas in the tank. Howard missed just seven tackles in 2023 and quarterbacks completed 62% of attempts while targeting him. </p> <div id="HLYArv"></div> <p id="uNmgjm">Dolphins’ general manager Chris Grier <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/2024/2/28/24086081/nfl-miami-dolphins-plan-to-leave-a-key-under-the-mat-for-xavien-howard">left the door open on a potential return</a> to Miami, but as of early March, the two-time interception leader sounded ready to move on. </p> <p id="9fK6Qu">“That door is closed. I’m sorry,” <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/news/xavien-howard-provides-more-clarity-155304470.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlcGhpbnNpZGVyLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAANEygeRMcOtV-ZB8Q4QCuGbhQ0hHxoswheGepejdklQhe8rBLBPAwyEAFlWr-UwkEvXt-CmXMT2uqy_uKu86xZL20mi9ERckfvv3NdCS1dOUu3xRRsu0Rq7GAE2nXcLwR78aHMXpn3WitONprrDQApYRiQ2unhvSf4s3ZaxPJj7l">Howard told the Joe Rose show.</a> </p> <div id="i5QIQy"> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">Xavien Howard tells us on <a href="https://twitter.com/560WQAM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@560WQAM</a> on a possible return to the Dolphins "that door is closed."</p>— The Joe Rose Show (@JoeRoseShow) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeRoseShow/status/1765732566345101503?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2024</a> </blockquote> </div></div>