Patriots Sign Another Former Viking Ahead of Super Bowl
The Super Bowl between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks is one-and-a-half weeks away. Vikings fans understandably gravitate toward the quarterback storyline involving Sam Darnold, but several other former Vikings are also represented on the Super Bowl rosters.
On Wednesday, the Patriots announced Trent Sherfield’s addition to the practice squad, increasing the number of ex-Vikings even further.
SB Nation’s Oliver Thomas wrote about the signing, “Sherfield, 29, had signed to the practice squad leading up to the divisional round and was released on the eve of the AFC Championship Game. The 6-foot, 203-pound wideout now returns to the depth chart as sights set on Santa Clara and the Seattle Seahawks. A veteran of 124 games in the regular season, including 14 starts, he stands with 89 receptions for 1,034 yards and six touchdowns.”
Sherfield had a short stint with the Patriots earlier this month and now presumably returns for a chance to win his first Super Bowl.
Sherfield has bounced around the league, spending time with the Cardinals, 49ers, Dolphins, Bills, Vikings, Broncos, and now with the Patriots. Across 124 career games, he has caught 89 passes for 1,034 yards and six touchdowns, providing value as a depth pass-catcher and on special teams.
In his lone season with the Vikings, Sherfield caught eight passes for 83 yards and one touchdown. He played 179 offensive snaps and 221 on special teams. Sherfield posted an excellent 85.8 PFF grade on special teams, serving as the team’s gunner on punts and in kickoff coverage while making eight tackles.
After his lone season with the Vikings, as his one-year deal had expired, he signed with Denver.
Broncos special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi said in August, “He’s a guy that’s a proven commodity. He’s excellent, excellent last year in the coverage aspect, he’s always been a good blocker on offense, and in the return game he brings an added toughness.”
The Vikings tried to close the hole by drafting Tai Felton in the third round. Granted, the rookie was pretty good on special teams.
Last year, former Vikings Nick Muse and Lewis Cine both won a Super Bowl without playing. Sherfield could do the same this year, though the Seahawks, led by Darnold, enter the matchup as the favorites.
The Patriots employ several former Vikings, most notably Stefon Diggs. He famously delivered the Minneapolis Miracle before forcing his way out after the 2019 season and exploding statistically in Buffalo. Last year, Diggs spent the season with the Texans until a torn ACL cut his year short. This marks his first season in New England.
Also on the roster is Josh Dobbs, whose heroics in the 2023 season were certainly amongst the most enjoyable moments in recent history. The career backup has not gotten much run since.
At center, the Patriots have long-time Vikings blocker Garrett Bradbury. The Vikings cut him last offseason shortly after signing Ryan Kelly to a lucrative deal. Injuries prevented Kelly from providing much of an upgrade.
Former draft picks offensive tackle Vederian Lowe and defensive lineman Jaquelin Roy are also on the roster. The latter is on IR, but Lowe is a key backup tackle for the Patriots. The list is completed by defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga, who has also stepped into the role of a fullback. He was a breakout player in 2022, but the Vikings said goodbye in the 2024 offseason.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.