Former Vikings WR Signs with Patriots
Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Trent Sherfield has a sweet arrangement around the bend: he’s suddenly a part of the NFL postseason, the Divisional Round even.
Sherfield’s Vikings stint was more about kick coverage and field-position snaps than targets, and that exact skill set is why teams keep calling.
The New England Patriots signed Sherfield on Tuesday for roster depth, a practice squad addition that could net dividends if New England activates him to the gameday roster this weekend and beyond. Sherfield went from unemployment to Round 2 of the playoffs with the stroke of a pen.
New England Adds Special Teams WR to the Mix
The Patriots have plenty of former Vikings, and Sherfield is the latest example.
Sherfield to New England
Indeed, Sherfield is a Patriot.
Boston Herald‘s Doug Syed wrote Tuesday, “The Patriots made changes to their practice squad Tuesday. Running back D’Ernest Johnson and cornerback Miles Battle were re-signed to the practice squad Tuesday after clearing waivers. The Patriots also signed veteran wide receiver Trent Sherfield and offensive tackle Lorenz Mets to the practice squad.”
“In a corresponding move, the Patriots released wide receiver Brandon Smith and defensive tackle Fabien Lovett from the practice squad. Sherfield, 29, is an accomplished NFL receiver. He’s in his eighth NFL season, now with his seventh team. The 6-foot-1, 206-pound wideout has 89 career receptions for 1,034 yards with six touchdowns.”
Playoff roster maintenance was rather kind to Sherfield, who’s banked 370 total snaps in 2025 between the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals’ rosters.
The Patriots’ Updated WR Corps
Keeping tabs on the Patriots for the Super Bowl push? These are Drake Maye’s wide receivers entering this weekend’s showdown with the Houston Texans:
- Stefon Diggs
- Kayshon Boutte
- DeMario Douglas
- Kyle Williams
- Efton Chism III
- John Jiles (Practice Squad)
- Jeremiah Webb (Practice Squad)
- Trent Sherfield (Practice Squad)
- Mack Hollins (IR)
In general NFL-speak, that unit is pretty skimpy. But Maye, a Top 2 frontrunner for the MVP award, makes it work.
USA Today‘s Jacob Camenker wrote about NE-HOU this week, “Maye has the seventh-longest average time to throw (2.97 seconds) in the league this season, per the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.”
“His tendency to hold the ball allows him to make explosive plays down the field, but it has also led to him being one of the NFL’s most sacked quarterbacks for the 2025 season. His 47 sacks taken were the fourth-most in the league behind only Geno Smith (55), Cam Ward (55) and Justin Herbert (48).”
Maye was a draft darling for Vikings fans in 2024 before the club ultimately landed on current QB1 J.J. McCarthy.
Camenker added, “That could also prove troublesome against the Texans. Houston has one of the league’s best overall defenses and allows opponents an average of just 2.78 seconds to throw, sixth-best in the NFL.”
“So, unless Maye gets the ball out of his hands quicker than usual – or unless his young offensive line which is starting two rookies (Will Campbell and Jared Wilson) on the left side can stonewall Houston’s pass rush – the Texans may be able keep the Patriots behind the chains or force turnovers in a manner similar to what the Chargers did in the wild-card round.”
Sherfield’s Career Resume
Sherfield’s 2024 stat line with Minnesota — eight catches, 83 yards, one touchdown — barely scratched the surface to define his real role. His value lived elsewhere.
Much like his role in Denver this season before a midseason roster cut, Sherfield became a special teams pillar for Kevin O’Connell, logging 221 snaps and handling dirty work that rarely shows up in box scores. Offensively, he functioned as a WR5. Operationally, he stabilized kick and punt units that needed some oomph.
Sean Payton noticed. Denver moved quickly in 2025 free agency, pulling Sherfield back into a role it already knew how to maximize, at least to start the 2025 campaign.
Here’s Sherfield’s full NFL resume:
- Arizona Cardinals (2018–2020)
- San Francisco 49ers (2021)
- Miami Dolphins (2022)
- Buffalo Bills (2023)
- Minnesota Vikings (2024)
- Denver Broncos (2025)
- Arizona Cardinals (2025)
- New England Patriots (2025–now)
When the Broncos dropped him, the Cardinals signed Sherfield, who stayed until Arizona’s final regular-season game.
Ex-Vikings on Mike Vrabel’s Team
If you’re looking for a rooting interest this weekend and perhaps beyond, the Patriots have you covered, employing eight former Vikings players. This is the list:
- Garrett Bradbury (C)
- Stefon Diggs (WR)
- Joshua Dobbs (QB)
- Christian Elliss (LB)
- Vederian Lowe (OT)
- Jaquelin Roy (IR, DT)
- Trent Sherfield (WR)
- Khyiris Tonga (DT)
Oddsmakers predict the Patriots to defeat the Texans by three points, a standard point spread favoring the home team when both squads are evenly matched.
Sherfield will turn 30 next month and will be a free agent in March. New England will announce Sunday if Sherfield gets the call to the gameday roster.
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