Howard expects to play vs. Falcons
MIAMI GARDENS — Dolphins star cornerback Xavien Howard was one of Miami’s three top veterans who sat out the team’s first preseason game at Chicago last Saturday to rest, but Howard said Thursday he expects to play in Saturday’s 7 p.m. exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium.
Howard, who got his contract restructured earlier in training camp after initially requesting a trade from the Dolphins and dealing with a mild ankle injury, has gotten into a practice rhythm after nearly two weeks of full participation.
On Thursday, in the second of two joint practices with the Falcons, Howard had an interception early in practice and later tipped up a ball that resulted in an interception for rookie safety Jevon Holland, his fourth of camp.
“It feels great,” Howard said. “I’m getting back to it, really just getting comfortable with the guys, knowing what guys’ strengths is and stuff like that. Our main focus is just getting around the ball, making plays on the ball.”
Howard had a bounce-back day after giving up a pair of touchdowns to Falcons wide receiver and Broward County product Calvin Ridley in Wednesday’s first joint practice.
“It’s a nice matchup,” Howard said of facing Ridley, who went for 90 receptions, 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns in 2020. “I appreciate what we’re doing with joint practices. Just focused on getting better. Every week, we go up against a top receiver, no matter who we are. Just getting with guys, seeing different ways how you can play different guys in this league.”
Flores said he had not decided, as of Thursday morning, whether Saturday night’s second of three preseason games will serve that same “dress rehearsal” purpose as the penultimate one in seasons where there have been four preseason exhibitions.
He said those decisions will be made in a Thursday night meeting, but Flores did offer that it’s important for players to see game action ahead of the regular season.
“Hard to get into peak form without games,” Flores said. “Even in Week 1, no one will have played 60, 70 snaps, even if you call a dress rehearsal — let’s say, if we did that in the preseason — that’s not going to be four quarters.
“Peak performance, you can get close, but there’s no way to mimic a 60-minute football game unless you do it.”
Howard agreed with the sentiment.
“That plays a big role,” he said. “Got to get comfortable in game situations, knowing what you got to do in situations, seeing situations like that, adapting to it.”
In last week’s preseason opener at the Bears, cornerback Byron Jones and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah also sat out for rest.
Flores on new OT Little
Flores spoke about the team’s Tuesday acquisition of third-year offensive tackle Greg Little on Thursday.
“We have some familiarity with him from the draft a couple of years ago,” said Flores about the secondround pick in 2019, whom Miami sent a 2022 seventh-round pick to Carolina to acquire. “Opportunity to get a young player, come in and compete.”
Little took part in his first practice with the Dolphins on Wednesday and now has had two days of participating in individual drills and doing limited work in the team setting against the Falcons. In a two-minute drill late in Wednesday’s practice, he committed a false start at left tackle, but on Thursday, he was seen combining on a pancake block in pass protection with running back Myles Gaskin.
Flores said the expectation isn’t for Little to immediately compete for a spot on the Dolphins’ offensive line, which has struggled in training camp and the preseason opener at Chicago, but for the Ole Miss product to eventually work his way there.
“Look, it’s a new environment, new locker room,” Flores said. “He’s got to learn the playbook. He’s got to learn his teammates. He’s got to figure out the surroundings here in our building, in this area. I think the message to him is, ‘Let’s take it one day at a time. Let’s try to improve, get better, learn the system, get to know your coaches, get to know the players on the team, figure out where the bathrooms are, figure out where the meeting rooms are, where the 595 is.
“We’ll coach him up and see where it goes, but we’re happy to add him. My conversation with him was very good. He’s excited to be here and excited for the opportunity to compete.”
Flores went deeper on what he found in his conversation with Little and what he liked about him to make the trade.
“We sat down and talked to him, some good rapport there, as far as his love for the game and passion about working and getting better,” Flores said. “I think, obviously, on film, he’s athletic and has size and was competitive on film. We’re happy to have him, and look, this is a process.”