DAVIE - Even though
Miami Dolphins cornerback
Xavien Howard is participating in team drills during practice this week, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph hinted that the rookie likely won’t play on Sunday against the
Baltimore Ravens.
According to Joseph, Howard still isn’t fully healed from the right knee scope that kept him from playing in the past seven games. Joseph believes Howard, who is practicing on a limited basis the past two weeks, needs a week of two before he’ll be cleared to play in a game.
“We're taking it slow with him. He's not quite ready yet, but he's close,” Joseph said of Howard, who started Miami’s first four games and contributed 28 tackles, two pass deflections and forced one fumble. "When he comes back we have to figure out how to play those guys because [
Tony] Lippett is playing well and [
Byron] Maxwell is playing very well.”
Joseph ruled out the possibility of Howard, Lippett or Maxwell playing nickel, potentially pushing Bobby McCain for that role by pointing out that nickel cornerback is a more complicated position to play than it seems. The most likely alternative is that Howard would rotate into the game and play a series or two for Lippett and Maxwell, at least early on.
