Colts' Newcomer Stayed Ready, Waiting for Call from Lou Anarumo

After loading up at cornerback during the offseason, the Indianapolis Colts found themselves in dire straits at the position by the end of training camp.

A couple of weeks prior, rookie cornerback Justin Walley , who appeared in line to start on the outside, suffered a season-ending ACL injury. He joined David Long Jr. as a Colts corner whose season ended before it actually began.

Walley was already seeing increased action due to veterans Jaylon Jones and JuJu Brents ailing from hamstring injuries. Starting slot Kenny Moore II also missed about a week with a knee injury before he, Jones, and Brents returned to practice t his week. Even prized free-agent addition Charvarius Ward had missed some time during camp with "tightness" in one of his legs.

The Colts knew that if they wanted to have a serious defensive backfield in 2025 and not have to rely on first and second-year undrafted players, then they'd have to make a serious move.

With that being the case, the Colts pulled on an old connection, signing two-time All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard in free agency. Howard spent the first two years of his career with new Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was Howard's defensive backs coach with the Miami Dolphins in 2016 and 2017.

Howard spent last season out of football, waiting for the right opportunity while a legal matter "cleared up," but before that, he was known as one of the NFL's biggest ballhawks, earning the 32-year-old four Pro Bowl nods throughout his career. In 100 career games, Howard has accumulated 331 tackles (eight for loss), four forced fumbles, five fumbles recovered, 29 interceptions, 95 pass breakups, and four defensive touchdowns.

“I've been in touch with (the Colts) for a little minute," Howard told reporters on Wednesday. "Me and Coach Lou have got a great relationship. My first two years in the league, he worked with me at the Miami Dolphins. So, I've been in contact with him, and when I got the call, I was ready to come.”

While Indianapolis may not have been the next destination that Howard envisioned when he was let go by the Dolphins last offseason, the opportunity to work with Anarumo was too good an opportunity for Howard to pass up.

“It means a lot, man," Howard said. "I'm familiar with him, he’s familiar with me. He knows my game, and I know – expect what he is going to call. So, I was just excited for the opportunity, just ready to come play.”