Another Former Viking Signs onto the Bills 53-Man Roster
Josh Frey
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The Buffalo Bills and Minnesota Vikings have been a pipeline for NFL players in recent years. Following the 2019 season, the two teams made the blockbuster trade that sent Stefon Diggs to Buffalo, and the Vikings got the draft pick that ended up being Justin Jefferson. Then, this offseason, former Vikings QB Case Keenum headed to Buffalo, and the Vikings signed DT Harrison Phillips.
Now, ahead of Week 13, another former Viking appears ready to suit up for the Bills for their final stretch of the season. CB Xavier Rhodes was signed to the 53-man roster on Saturday afternoon following Christian Benford’s oblique injury which landed him on IR. The rookie sixth-round pick had started five games for the Bills at corner so far this season.
Rhodes signed with Buffalo’s practice squad back on September 28th and was elevated to the active roster twice during the middle portion of the season. He appeared in his only game of the season during Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns; a game the Bills won, 31-23.
In that appearance, Rhodes recorded a pair of tackles in 25 defensive snaps. He was targeted once during the game, a completion for five yards.
The 10-year veteran CB began his career with the Vikings after being drafted 25th overall by Minnesota in the 2013 NFL Draft. Rhodes spent his first seven NFL seasons with the Vikings, making three Pro Bowls and being named a First-Team All-Pro in 2017.
Overall, Rhodes played 104 games with the Vikings, including 97 starts. He recorded 372 tackles, 15 TFLs, 73 pass defenses, and is one of 37 Vikings to record at least 10 INTs. One of these 10 interceptions was a franchise-record 100-yard pick-six in 2016.
Following the 2019 season, Rhodes signed with the Indianapolis Colts where he played both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. In those two years, he started 29 games and recorded 81 tackles, 19 PDs, and 3 INTs, including another pick six in 2020.
Rhodes now joins a CB room in Buffalo that has been banged up for much of the year, most prominently Tre’Davious White. The 2019 All-Pro corner has played just one game to this point in 2022, and the Bills are hoping Rhodes can help provide some veteran leadership while White continues on his path back from his ACL injury suffered during the 2021 season.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. He also earned minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys marathon training, playing video games, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his opinions, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.