Vikings sign Odell Beckham Jr. to practice squad after Giants waived him
In short
The Minnesota Vikings signed veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., 33, to their practice squad on Wednesday. The unbeaten Vikings (4-0) rank last in the NFL in passing yards, and top receiver Justin Jefferson missed the last game with a sprained ankle. Beckham had no catches on one target in three games with the New York Giants this season before the Giants waived him.
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The Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad on Wednesday, the team announced, Fox News reported. The Associated Press said the move adds skill position depth and experience for a lagging offense: the Vikings are 4-0 but rank last in the NFL in passing yards. Fox News reported that fellow receiver Jeshaun Jones was also signed. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]
The Vikings are short of receivers. The AP reported that top wide receiver Justin Jefferson missed the last game with a sprained ankle, and Fox News said he suffered the injury in Week 3. According to Fox News, Jordan Addison has picked up the slack with 11 receptions for 163 yards and a touchdown, tight end T.J. Hockenson leads the team with 195 yards on 22 catches, and no other Vikings receiver has more than two receptions this season. Newsweek cited injuries to both Jefferson and Addison. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Beckham said O'Connell made him feel wanted, Newsweek reported. "It seemed as if he wanted me to be here," Beckham said of the Vikings head coach. "And that was expressed to me. And that feels good." Newsweek said Beckham's first opportunity with Minnesota could come in Week 5, when the Vikings visit the New Orleans Saints. [ 5 ]
Beckham, 33, returned to the New York Giants this year after being out of football in 2025, the AP reported. He made the 53-man roster but played three games with one target and no catches; Fox News said that came over 20 snaps. Newsweek reported the Giants, now coached by John Harbaugh, waived him on Sept. 29. According to Fox News, Beckham felt the Giants gave him the "run along" through training camp and the preseason and cost him a real chance to make an impact. The AP said he served a six-game suspension last year for failing a performance-enhancing drug test and did not sign with a team after that. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Beckham was the 2014 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons with the Giants. He has 575 catches for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns, over 122 regular-season games according to the AP. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and joined the Los Angeles Rams midway through their 2021 Super Bowl championship season, when O'Connell was the Rams' offensive coordinator; he had 21 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns in four playoff games that year. He played for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and the Miami Dolphins in 2024. [ 2 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The Associated Press said the signing adds skill position depth and experience to a lagging offense that ranks last in the league in passing yards, and Fox News said the Vikings need receiver help while Jefferson is injured. Beckham previously played for Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell with the Los Angeles Rams, and Newsweek reported his first chance to play for Minnesota could come in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints.
Key facts
- The Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad on Wednesday. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Fox News reported that the Vikings also signed receiver Jeshaun Jones. [ 4 ]
- The Vikings are 4-0 and, according to the AP, rank last in the NFL in passing yards. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Top Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson has an ankle injury; the AP said he missed the last game with a sprained ankle. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Beckham, 33, played three games for the New York Giants this season with one target and no catches. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Newsweek reported the Giants waived Beckham on Sept. 29. [ 5 ]
- Beckham has 7,987 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns in his NFL career. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Beckham played for O'Connell when O'Connell was offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Vikings signed Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad on Wednesday. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Vikings have a 4-0 record. [ 2 , 5 ]
- Justin Jefferson is dealing with an ankle injury. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Beckham had no catches on one target with the Giants this season. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- Beckham has 7,987 career receiving yards and 59 touchdowns. [ 2 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Jordan Addison is injured. Newsweek cited injuries to both Jefferson and Addison; Fox News described Addison as picking up the slack in Jefferson's absence and did not mention an injury to him.
- Whether Beckham will play in Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints. Newsweek said his first opportunity could come then; no team decision is reported.
- Beckham's account that the Giants gave him the "run along". This is Beckham's view as reported by Fox News; the documents carry no response from the Giants.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Reuters reports the Vikings added Beckham to their practice squad. [ 1 ]
- The Associated Press reports the signing from Eagan, Minnesota. [ 2 ]
- The Associated Press publishes a Spanish-language report on the signing. [ 3 ]
- Fox News reports the signing and Beckham's view of his Giants stint. [ 4 ]
- Newsweek reports Beckham's comments on why he joined the Vikings. [ 5 ]