Odell Beckham Jr. has quickly found another NFL opportunity after his short second stint with the New York Giants ended. The 33-year-old wide receiver joined the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
The move gives Beckham another chance to remain in the league after New York released him Sept. 29. He played only 19 snaps across three games, received one target and finished his return without a reception.
Minnesota enters Week 5 at 4-0 and has a clear reason to explore additional receiver depth. Star Justin Jefferson has been dealing with an ankle injury, creating an opening for another experienced option.
Beckham gets another NFL chance
The Vikings officially added Beckham to their practice squad on Wednesday, giving the veteran a fresh setting after his anticipated Giants reunion failed to develop into a meaningful offensive role.
Beckham returned to New York in June after spending the entire 2025 season out of the NFL. The Giants ultimately kept him on their initial 53-man roster, but his opportunities quickly disappeared.
Now, Minnesota offers a different environment. The Vikings are undefeated through four games, and Beckham arrives with familiarity with several people inside the organization, including head coach Kevin O’Connell.
His Giants reunion ended quickly
The Giants’ decision came after Beckham appeared in three games but barely saw the field. According to NFL.com, he played 19 snaps, received one target and failed to record a catch during the brief reunion.
New York had originally hoped Beckham could provide veteran depth while returning to the franchise where his career began. He was selected No. 12 overall by the Giants in the 2014 NFL Draft.
The reunion lasted less than four months. The Giants’ transaction log lists Beckham as a vested veteran whose contract was terminated Sept. 29, making him available to pursue another opportunity.
Minnesota has a familiar connection
Beckham already knows O’Connell from their time with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021. O’Connell was the Rams’ offensive coordinator that season, when Beckham joined Los Angeles during its Super Bowl-winning campaign.
That history could help Beckham navigate Minnesota’s offense more quickly. Vikings offensive coordinator Wes Phillips also worked with Beckham during his tenure with the Rams, creating another familiar connection inside the building.
Beckham’s 2021 postseason remains one of the strongest recent stretches of his career. He caught 21 passes for 288 yards and 2 touchdowns during the Rams’ playoff run, including a touchdown in Super Bowl LVI.
The Vikings need receiver depth
Minnesota’s interest comes while Jefferson deals with an ankle injury that has already sidelined him. The Vikings have continued to win, but their receiver depth has become more important as the season progresses.
Jordan Addison has received a large share of the available targets, while other Minnesota wide receivers have had limited production through four games. Beckham, therefore, arrives as an experienced option rather than an immediate guaranteed starter.
The Vikings are scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Beckham’s practice-squad status means there is no guarantee he will immediately appear in a game, but the opportunity keeps his season alive.
Beckham still owns a notable NFL résumé
Despite his recent struggles, Beckham enters Minnesota with substantial career production. Through 122 regular-season games, he has recorded 575 receptions, 7,987 receiving yards and 59 receiving touchdowns.
His career also includes 3 Pro Bowl selections and the 2014 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Those accomplishments followed his rapid emergence as one of the league’s most recognizable young receivers.
His practice-squad signing gives Minnesota another experienced receiver who can compete for opportunities as the coaching staff evaluates his potential contribution.
His connection to Minnesota runs deeper
Beckham is a New Orleans native, and Minnesota’s Week 5 opponent happens to be the Saints. That creates an unusual backdrop for his latest NFL chapter, although his immediate focus is joining the Vikings’ offense.
He also has a relationship with Jefferson. Beckham played at LSU from 2011-13 and overlapped with Jefferson’s older brother, Jordan Jefferson, who was a quarterback for the Tigers.
The Vikings even faced Beckham during the preseason this year, when he was briefly reunited with the New York Giants. Now, instead of preparing to face Minnesota, he will attempt to earn a role within its offense.
The next step will determine his role
Practice-squad placement gives Beckham an opportunity but does not guarantee playing time. He will have to learn Minnesota’s system, compete with other receivers and demonstrate that he can contribute after a limited 2026 start.
The Vikings’ undefeated record also changes the context. Minnesota does not need to force Beckham into a major role immediately, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate him while maintaining the flexibility of its current receiver group.
For Beckham, the immediate goal is straightforward: turn another opportunity into meaningful NFL snaps. After a quiet Giants return, Minnesota provides a chance to extend his career on a team already positioned for a strong season.
Beckham’s famous catch remains part of NFL history
One memorable moment still defines much of Beckham’s early NFL legacy. During his rookie season in 2014, he made a 43-yard, one-handed touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys at MetLife Stadium.
The play became so iconic that the NFL’s “100 Greatest” series ranked it No. 16 among the league’s greatest plays. Beckham made the catch while falling backward, with Cowboys cornerback Brandon Carr closely defending him.
That moment came during a rookie season that earned Beckham the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award. More than a decade later, he is trying to add another chapter to the career that began with that spectacular rise.
Fun fact: In 2015, Odell Beckham Jr. set a Guinness World Record by making 33 one-handed catches in one minute with quarterback Drew Brees. The stunt recreated a Visa commercial.
TL;DR
- Odell Beckham Jr. joined the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on Oct. 7 after the Giants released him Sept. 29.
- NFL.com’s Oct. 7 report lists 20 snaps across 3 Giants games, with 1 target and no catches.
- Minnesota enters Week 5 at 4-0 while Justin Jefferson recovers from an ankle injury.
- Beckham reunites with Kevin O’Connell and Wes Phillips, who worked with him during the Rams’ 2021 championship season.
- His regular-season career totals include 575 receptions, 7,987 receiving yards and 59 receiving touchdowns.
Read More From This Brand:
- Odell Beckham Jr.’s New York comeback gets another nostalgic twist
- Giants’ Harbaugh open to Odell Beckham Jr. reunion ahead of 2026 season
- Giants reveal why Odell Beckham Jr.’s return ended after only 3 games
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
