In celebration of Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard’s 27th birthday on Saturday, fellow Dolphins defensive back Bobby McCain posted on social media to recognize the day.
Last year, both McCain and Howard dealt with injuries that resulted in McCain only seeing action in nine games and Howard only playing in five contests.
McCain’s health issues dealt with shoulder trouble that ended his season after starting eight of the Dolphins’ first 10 games.
Howard battled knee problems for much of the 2019 season, which eventually resulted in season-ending surgery and ended his year with just a single interception. That came after a Pro Bowl year in 2018 in which Howard had a league-high seven interceptions.
McCain joined the Dolphins as a fifth-round draft pick in 2015, with Howard a second-round selection the following year.
Since coming together, the duo has seen plenty of ups and downs, though the current offseason offers the hope of great success for the Dolphins’ defensive backfield.
One major reason for optimism is the signing of free agent Byron Jones. He and Howard are projected to be the team’s two lockdown corners this season.
Of course, the wild card when it comes to the 2020 season is the continuing coronavirus pandemic that’s prevented players from working together for most of the past four months. The Dolphins’ regular season is scheduled to get underway with a road matchup against the New England Patriots on September 13.
