To Eric D. Williams
FOX Sports NFL Writer
Glendale, Arizona — Victor Borden Jr. Came back to the bottom of the depth chart after an impressive stint at USFL.
Last month, Oregon State University’s products helped guide the Birmingham Stallions to the USFL championship, earning MVP honors in the title game along the way.
Bolden hopes to bring that success to a spot on the Arizona Cardinals’ 90-man roster and land a job as a wide receiver and returner.
Victor Borden Jr. Season Highlights
Watch highlights from receiver/kick return Victor Bolden for the Birmingham Stallions who was MVP of the USFL title game before signing with the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.
For Boden, it’s a return to the NFL after first earning a spot with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted rookie in 2017, then spending time with the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions.
Boden, now 27, knows it’s hard to make an impression with limited reps.
Bolden told FOX Sports, “I’ve got the whole season under my belt, so I’m seasoned when it comes to my physical condition.” I know what I can do, so I keep showing what I can do.”
Bolden had 42 catches for 415 yards and a stallion score in the regular season, earning All-USFL honors on offense. In his game in which Birmingham won the Philadelphia Stars 33–30 in his championship, he finished with his 64 catches for his 64 receiving yards and the game-winning score.
Cardinals receiving coach Sean Jefferson told reporters of Bolden, “To be honest, this kid really stood out. “He’s just another guy who can play both inside and outside. He can make players miss on special teams, so after the first few players there’s a fight going on across that group…see how it swings.”
Bolden said he had a special motivation during training camp. His three-year-old son, Zaire, he’s Isaiah.
“If you have a passion for something, keep following it,” Bolden said. “That’s what I’m trying to do. This is what I want to do. I have a young son and I just want to show him that good things can happen if you pursue your passion.”
Bolden is one of 36 USFL players currently in NFL training camp, with 24 of the 32 teams signing at least one Spring League player. Each of his eight USFL teams has at least three players in camp. The numbers show that the league is really offering the player another chance in the NFL for him.
Still, they have to fight to get into the 53-man roster.
“The USFL has a lot of talent,” Bolden said. “There are currently some players who have not received calls that would be great additions to any team, so if they keep doing what they are doing, they will definitely be feeders for the league for years to come. ”
Bolden, who had 794 return yards for the Stallions during the regular season, got a job as a punter returner during training camp. That’s just another way he could find his way onto the Cardinals’ roster.
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Arizona will be without star receiver DeAndre Hopkins for the first six games of the regular season for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing drug policy. is treating the problem of As such, Bolden was able to get time in his first preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals in Arizona on Friday.
“I have to take responsibility for learning the playbook so they can trust me.” Just make sure you feel comfortable that you can play.
“You have to rely on your own experience. I’ve been playing professionally for about six years, so I know how the game goes.”
How Friday’s game goes may matter to Bolden.
Eric D. Williams has covered the NFL for over a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter. @eric_d_williams.
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