Bengals interested in adding former All-Pro who previously played under Lou Anarumo years ago
The Cincinnati Bengals are still at 15 practice squad players, but a 16th could be on the way.Per NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, Cincinnati is hosting free agent cornerback Xavien Howard today for a visit. Howard, a former second-round pick from the 2016 NFL Draft, spent his first eight years in the league with the Miami […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are still at 15 practice squad players, but a 16th could be on the way.
Per NFL Media's Mike Garafolo, Cincinnati is hosting free agent cornerback Xavien Howard today for a visit.
Howard, a former second-round pick from the 2016 NFL Draft, spent his first eight years in the league with the Miami Dolphins. He's a two-time interceptions leader (2018, 2020), a four-time Pro Bowler, and an All-Pro with 29 career interceptions to his name after playing 100 games in Miami.
23 of those games were during Howard's first two seasons in 2016-17 when current Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was his defensive backs coach. Anarumo would go on to hold the same title for the New York Giants in 2018, and became the DC for Cincinnati in 2019.
Howard was released by the Dolphins back in March and hasn't been with a team since. The Bengals had already filled their lone roster vacancy by claiming former Detroit Lions receiver Isaiah Williams late last week, so Howard would start off on the practice squad. He could be elevated up to three times this season before he would have to be signed to the active roster in order to play.
It's only a visit for now, but there's a good chance Howard and Anarumo reunite this week.
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