Miami Dolphins has been dropping hints of releasing Xavien Howard for a while now. When their new DC didn’t name the cornerback among the players he was looking forward to coaching in the 2024 season, it was highly speculated that we wouldn’t see Howard in Miami anymore. However, it seems like the cornerback is making sure he retains his place.

After Howard suffered a foot injury during a match against the Ravens in 2023, he had to sit out for most of the season, including the Wild Card match against the Chiefs. Even the games he played weren’t very favorable toward showcasing his performance. It seems, however, that Howard is determined to wash off his past record and make a comeback from his injury.

Xavien Howard: practicing for a comeback

The cornerback is leaving no stone unturned to secure his place in a team. To retain his spot in Miami, or even any other team through a trade, Howard needs to pass the physical. After suffering a left foot fracture in Week 17 in 2023, Howard lost out on a lot of games and was a massive loss to the Dolphins’ defense.

Ahead of the 2024 season, Howard is back on the field to get back in form. According to SportsIllustrated, the cornerback has started training again, running and cutting on the field. Though this decision might be helpful in his staying with the Dolphins, Howard himself isn’t too attached to the idea. Reportedly, after Miami lost in the playoffs, the cornerback expressed that he might not be returning.

“It’s up in the air,” Howard expressed. “At the end of the day, it’s a business also. My eight years here, I’ve made the best of it. If this year is the last year and I have to say goodbye to some of the guys here, I understand. It’s a part of the business. No matter where I go, I’m still going to do my thing.”

There is a possibility that the Phins are planning to cut him out due to salary cap reasons.

The Dolphins’ salary cap is not looking good for Howard

Miami hasn’t been the best-endowed with cap space this season. So it’s natural that they would consider releasing Howard before to free up cap space. The 2016 NFL draft got a five-year extension to his contract, worth over $90 million. If the Dolphins release Howard after June 1st, they can free up $18.5 million, which they can use to get a new player in the mix, someone like Jaylon Johnson.

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Having played only 15 games over the past two seasons, Howard’s stats aren’t really a good look for him this coming season. The 31-year-old could only score one interception, four assists and had 38 solo tackles in the last season. However, the cornerback is on the road to a comeback to his former glory, post-recovery from his unfortunate injuries. He shared a story on Instagram with an Usher video. In it, Usher is heard saying the words Howard himself wants to express for his future.

“Sometimes you got to leave. Sometimes, you have to go away from home in order to be truly valued and appreciated and maybe find yourself. Sometimes in the wilderness, you’ll find something valuable, and you come back, and you can really enjoy it.”