The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad on Wednesday, bringing the 33-year-old playmaker to a contender following his release from the New York Giants, according to reports by rds.ca and Jordan Schultz. The transaction gives Beckham another opportunity in the NFL after an abbreviated stint in New York.
Giants Release Precedes Minnesota Practice Squad Deal
Beckham joined the Vikings’ practice squad exactly one week after the Giants released him on September 29, as reported by rds.ca. His return to the franchise that selected him 12th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft yielded minimal production. Over three games and 19 offensive snaps with New York, Beckham drew just one target and did not record a catch. During his initial five-year run with the Giants, Beckham established himself as a receiver before subsequent stops with the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Miami Dolphins.
According to rds.ca, Beckham sat out the 2025 NFL season before returning to New York during the offseason and earning a spot on the initial 53-man roster. However, the Giants never integrated him into the regular offensive game plan. Last season with Miami, he appeared in games with limited output, catching nine passes for 54 yards.
Reuniting With Kevin O’Connell and Familiar Systems
The move to Minnesota reunites Beckham with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell. When O’Connell served as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, Beckham joined the team and caught five touchdown passes across eight regular-season games, eventually helping the Rams capture Super Bowl LVI. Beckham also played under Vikings assistant coach Frank Smith during their time together with the Miami Dolphins in 2024.
According to rds.ca, the Vikings added two receivers to their practice squad on Wednesday, signing Jeshaun Jones alongside Beckham. Minnesota’s receiving corps has faced depth challenges early in the autumn schedule. Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson sustained a left ankle sprain during the team’s Week 3 matchup, forced him to miss Week 4, and left his availability for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints uncertain, as reported by rds.ca.
Offensive Struggles and Roster Adjustments in Minnesota
The Vikings enter Week 5 with an unblemished 4-0 record, though their passing attack has encountered friction. Outside of Jefferson, wideout Jordan Addison has shouldered the primary receiving load, catching 11 of 22 targets for 163 yards and one touchdown. No other active Vikings wide receiver has secured more than two catches through the opening four games.
Minnesota previously brought in veteran receiver Jauan Jennings to fill the third receiver role behind Jefferson and Addison. Jennings missed a game due to personal reasons and contributed two catches for nine yards on four targets across three appearances. The Vikings’ wider practice squad also features receivers Michael Briscoe and Dillon Bell, alongside special teams ace Myles Price and wide receiver Tai Felton, who has recorded one catch in four games.
Vikings Evaluate Beckham Ahead of Saints Game
Beckham has accumulated 575 receptions for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns. While questions remain regarding how much production the 33-year-old receiver has left, the practice squad addition offers Minnesota a low-risk evaluation in an offensive scheme Beckham already understands.
The Vikings travel to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, where the team’s active roster decisions regarding Justin Jefferson and the receiving rotation will be finalized prior to kickoff.
