Cowboys Sign Xavier Rhodes to Practice Squad

FRISCO, TX – If you thought the Dallas Cowboys were done adding talent ahead of what they hope will be a playoff run, think again. The team is signing cornerback Xavier Rhodes to the practice squad just before their trip to face the Washington Commanders in the regular season finale, again addressing a position of need before the tournament.

Rhodes is a former three-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who parlayed his first-round pick status with the Minnesota Vikings (2013) into an NFL stretch that, at one point, saw him ascend ranks as one of the best cornerbacks in the entire league.

That led to a five-year, $70.1 million contract extension with the Vikings in 2017, but the two sides would go on to part ways in 2020 — seven seasons after Rhodes first arrived in Minneapolis and as the franchise record holder for most passes defensed by a rookie as well as longest interception return (his famous 100-yard dash in 2016).

Rhodes has since spent time with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills en route to now landing in Dallas this January, joining a practice squad that had a vacancy after the move to place safety Juanyeh Thomas on injured reserve.

It’s another move for coach Mike McCarthy and Dan Quinn in an effort to bolster depth at cornerback after season-ending injuries to Jourdan Lewis and Anthony Brown. Rhodes follows the recent acquisitions of Trayvon Mullen (claimed via waivers in December), Mackensie Alexander (signed to practice squad in December) and Kendall Sheffield (signed to practice squad in October).

Currently, it’s former fourth-round pick Nahshon Wright manning the edge opposite First-Team All-Pro cornerback Trevon Diggs, with rookie sensation DaRon Bland taking over the nickel/slot duties — Wright tends to stepped up after replacing a struggling Kelvin Joseph.

The spot remains in Wright’s possession for Washington, and likely the playoffs as well (barring regression), but the Cowboys are clearly all about trying to end their decades-long Super Bowl drought; in a season that has seen them acquire some notable talent on both sides of the ball.

Rhodes is simply the latest.

The 32-year-old joins the Cowboys with a resume that boasts 13 career interceptions, two sacks, 92 pass breakups and 457 combined tackles, hoping to rebuild his brand and perhaps hoist his first Lombardi Trophy this process.