Is Colts Cornerback Xavier Rhodes on Road to NFL Redemption as he Faces Vikings?

Not long ago, cornerback Xavier Rhodes was considered one of the NFL’s best cover guys when he was with the Minnesota Vikings. After one game with the Indianapolis Colts, his former team visits Sunday.

INDIANAPOLIS — If there any lingering hard feelings about his sudden divorce from the Minnesota Vikings in March, cornerback Xavier Rhodes doesn’t express any such emotion.

Released from the final three years of a five-year, $70.1-million extension with $32.8 million guaranteed, Rhodes signed for $3 million to join the Indianapolis Colts. Because Colts cornerbacks coach Jonathan Gannon worked with Rhodes in Minnesota, his new employer was convinced enough that Rhodes could regain his 2017 All-Pro form.

How long did it take for Rhodes to accept the reality that the Vikings were moving on without him?

“Honestly, it didn’t take long at all,” he said on a Tuesday video call. “At some point as a player, you’ve been there for so long, you have a brotherhood with the coaches and everyone at the facility. It’s hard to let go because it’s somewhat like a family to you. But as time goes on, you keep reminding yourself, ‘Hey, this is a business. So things like that happen.’

“I’d say probably a couple of hours, maybe a day. The first couple of hours, it was like a shocker to me, but after that, I reminded myself this is a business and I’ve got to move onto the next.”

A day?

“Honestly, about a day, yeah,” he said.

As the Vikings (0-1) visit the Colts (0-1) on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium, the reality of Rhodes’ current situation is that he still has a lot to prove to earn a lucrative, multi-year contract next offseason.

This game isn’t about revenge. He reiterated his affinity for the Vikings.

“It’s all love,” Rhodes said. “I was there for seven years. It was a brotherhood when I was there, and it’s still a brotherhood to this day. So it’s going to be good going against those guys. When I was practicing against those guys when I was there, we were competing each and every play, so it’s going to be the same right there on the field. But I’m going to be able to tackle them this time.”

Make no mistake, this game and season is about redemption. Perhaps not for two inconsistent seasons that led to his release, but as Rhodes said in an offseason call, he has to play better.

Xavier Rhodes (27) interacts during Colts training camp :: Marc Lebryk/USA TODAY Sports

In his Colts debut, Rhodes was beaten badly on what proved to be the deciding touchdown pass in a 27-20 loss at Jacksonville. He also had a pass-interference penalty that seemed unnecessary because the defender was in good position.

Rhodes acknowledged what defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said about the two breakdowns, that the cornerback would like to have both plays back.

Now Rhodes will see a familiar face in Pro Bowl wide receiver Adam Thielen. They know each other well from seven years of practice matchups. Rhodes was the Vikings’ first-round selection, 25th overall, in 2013. That same year, Thielen was undrafted and signed to the practice squad.

“Shoot, I can go back to day one in the Vikings organization at rookie camp, going against him every single day,” Thielen said of Rhodes. “Pretty much from there on, looking at my practice squad year, going against him every day, and then moving forward in training camp and things like that.

“Honestly, he's probably been a big part of who I am today because he's challenged me, he's pushed me, he's made things very difficult on me. That's what helps you become a better football player when you have a challenge like that, you're constantly having to perform your best and having to get better, so I give him honestly a lot of credit for helping me become the player I am today.”

Thielen considers Rhodes a friend. Rhodes’ “love” is reciprocated.

It’s imperative that the Colts tighten their coverage on Vikings receivers, specifically Thielen. When with the Vikings, Rhodes always drew the other team’s No. 1, so he’s familiar with the challenge.

Will Rhodes show he can still be the same player who built an impressive reputation going up against the NFL’s best receivers?

The Colts need him to be that guy. 

And Rhodes needs to be that guy if this road leads to redemption.

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(Phillip B. Wilson has covered the Indianapolis Colts for more than two decades and authored the 2013 book 100 Things Colts Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die. He’s on Twitter @pwilson24, on Facebook at @allcoltswithphilb and @100thingscoltsfans, and his email is phillipbwilson24@yahoo.com.)