Even with their excellent file no extra, issues proceed to fall within the Buffalo Payments’ favor. A plethora of injuries, for instance, has given technique to an All-Professional defender. 

Xavier Rhodes is the newest member of the Bills, whose every day harm experiences are beginning to resemble beginning lineups. With the secondary notably banged up (Christian Benford, Dane Jackson, Jordan Poyer amongst this week’s entrants), the Payments turned to sources past Orchard Park for help. That yielded Rhodes, a three-time Professional Bowler that beforehand labored with Minnesota (2013-19) and Indianapolis (2020-21). 

“(He is) an skilled participant. He’s performed plenty of soccer. Ball manufacturing. Sensible, veteran participant,” Payments head coach Sean McDermott stated of Rhodes. “(He) got here within the different day and did an excellent job and we’re wanting ahead to seeing him on the sector.”

Maybe true to Buffalo’s comparatively cursed latest fortunes, Rhodes’ debut must wait: a hamstring issue will keep him out of Sunday’s Week 4 visit to Baltimore (1 p.m. ET, CBS). However it ought to take the Florida State alum little, if any, time to get adjusted to the Payments’ protection.

Rhodes, 32, is already conscious of what this iteration of the group is succesful, having witnessed its first playoff win in January 2021 once they topped his Colts within the AFC Wild Card playoffs. Private ties, nevertheless, seem all around the Buffalo ledgers, ones that ought to guarantee a easy transition when he is able to reignite. 

For instance, Payments defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier oversaw Rhodes’ rise to energy in Minnesota, which included his aforementioned All-Professional affairs in 2017. He additionally typically works out with new teammate and fellow All-Professional nominee Poyer throughout the offseason and beforehand united with Frazier and present backup quarterback Case Keenum to information the Vikings to the NFC title sport in 2017-18. Poyer, for his half, reportedly tried to lure Rhodes to Buffalo as early as last season, however the latter opted for one more season with the Colts as an alternative. 

Rhodes was by no means contemplating retirement, remarking to the team site that he was “keep(ing) prepared” and “ready on the decision” from Buffalo or its 31 brothers. The familiarity that Payments offered with out enjoying a single down may’ve been a fateful promoting level when it comes to selecting his NFL profession’s subsequent vacation spot. 

“Having a relationship with (Frazier) and having relationships with plenty of different guys right here, helped it additionally. Mainly, they needed me to be right here for my presence for the blokes that went down,” Rhodes stated. “It is an awesome factor as a result of it isn’t one thing you must begin anew. You’ve somebody you already know that is aware of you, is aware of your ins and outs. It was an awesome feeling.”

Familiarity and continuity have been essential for the Payments (2-1) as they’ve change into one of many lords of the AFC on this new decade: in a world of fixed gridiron roster turnover, Josh Allen, Gabriel Davis, Stefon Diggs, Matt Milano, and plenty of others linger from that 2020-21 group that topped Indianapolis 27-24 en path to the AFC title sport. Extra just lately, Rhodes earned a quantum of revenge, notably tipping an Allen go that landed within the palms of Kenny Moore when Indianapolis bestowed a 41-15 shellacking in a go to to Orchard Park final season. 

However with the Payments pressured to show to the waiver wire, roster uncertainty may actually derail any Tremendous Bowl desires. Rhodes’ private ties, in addition to his already famend skills, may assist hold them on that relative tempo. 

“These guys, it is only a household and upon getting household on a group, the sky is the restrict,” Rhodes stated. “With the communication that goes on once I first obtained right here with the protection and the communication with offense, I have been round a protection and offense like that earlier than, so to see that, I do know that the sky is the restrict.”

Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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