Dolphins’ Xavien Howard Has No Idea Who the Falcons’ Starting QB Is

‘I don’t know who that is,’ the Miami defensive back said of Atlanta’s QB1.

The Falcons and Dolphins are set to open the preseason against each other on Thursday night and ahead of the game the two teams participated in joint practices in Miami. Much of the attention was on Desmond Ridder, the 2022 third-round pick who’s expected to begin the season as Atlanta’s starting quarterback. Unless you were paying close attention to the final four games of last year’s lousy Falcons season, you might not know much about Ridder. Don’t worry, neither does Dolphins veteran Xavien Howard. 

After practice on Tuesday, a Pro Football Network reporter asked Howard for his thoughts on Ridder. 

“Ridder?” the cornerback responded. ”I’m sorry?”

Informed that the reporter was referring to the Atlanta quarterback, Howard still wasn’t sure who it was. 

“Oh, I don’t know who that is,” he said. “I’m sorry. What number?”

At that point, the reporter told Howard that Ridder wore No. 9. That jogged his memory. 

“Oh, it was cool,” Howard continued. “I don’t know their names. I wasn’t looking at film. It wasn’t like I was studying them. Happy to go against them, but they did, O.K. They did a good job.”

It’s understandable that Howard wouldn’t know much about Ridder. The Dolphins and Falcons are in different conferences, and Ridder was still in college when the two teams last met in 2021. Ridder’s four starts last season came while Atlanta limped to an unremarkable 7–10 finish, and he didn’t exactly cover himself in glory. He didn’t throw his first touchdown pass until the season finale. Still, how many starting quarterbacks are anonymous to perennial Pro Bowlers like Howard?