After being hosted on a free agent visit by the Buffalo Bills, cornerback Xavier Rhodes unofficially announced his signing with the team.
Buffalo made the move official on Wednesday signing the cornerback to their practice squad.
Rhodes joins a cornerback room that is currently dealing with multiple injuries.
Starting cornerback Dane Jackson suffered a neck injury in Buffalo’s Monday Night Football victory over the Tennessee Titans. It’s unknown how long he will be out of action. Rookie Christian Benford, the team’s other starting cornerback, fractured his hand against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3. Benford will miss a few weeks of action as he will need surgery to repair the injury.
The team’s top cornerback, Tre’Davious White, is currently on the PUP list. He will be eligible to return after Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens, but it is unknown if he is nearing a return or will need more time to recover from a torn ACL that he suffered in November.
With so many players injured, Buffalo was down to first-round pick Kaiir Elam, nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, Cam Lewis and Siran Neal on their 53-man roster at the position.
By signing Rhodes to their practice squad, Buffalo can work to get the veteran up to speed and potentially sign him to the main roster. It’s possible that Rhodes and Ja’Marcus Ingram are both promoted to the main roster for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.
Following the addition of Rhodes, here are three things to know about the cornerback.
Former All-Pro, Pro Bowl cornerback
Rhodes established himself as one of the league’s top cornerbacks just a few years into his career. From 2016 to 2019, Rhodes was named to the Pro Bowl three times. In addition to being recognized by his peers and the fans, Rhodes also earned the respect of the media earning an All-Pro nod in 2017.
Best season came in 2020 per PFF
Xavier Rhodes dealt with injury issues in 2021. In his last full season in 2020, Rhodes was excellent with the Indianapolis Colts. That season, Pro Football Focus gave him the highest grade of his career, a 76.3. In Indianapolis, Rhodes was playing in a zone heavy scheme, much like Buffalo’s system.
Drafted by Leslie Frazier
In Leslie Frazier’s final season as Vikings head coach, Rhodes was drafted by Minnesota in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. The former No. 25 overall pick will be reunited with Frazier in Buffalo.
Rhodes was also teammates with Stefon Diggs from 2015-2019.
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