The Minnesota Vikings released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Tuesday, a day after the veteran was active but went without a target in a 23-6 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Beckham, 34, joined the Vikings’ practice squad on Oct. 7 after the New York Giants released him. The team elevated him to the 53-man roster in the days before Monday night’s game at U.S. Bank Stadium. He dressed for the contest but recorded no receptions, targets or yards.
The Bills improved to 7-1 with the win. The Vikings fell to 6-2. Buffalo controlled the ball for more than 42 minutes, held Minnesota to 178 total yards and limited the offense to two field goals. Carson Wentz started in place of injured quarterback Kyler Murray and completed 8 of 25 passes for 81 yards with two interceptions.
Beckham’s time in Minnesota lasted roughly one month. He signed with the Giants as a free agent in June and made the initial roster, but he appeared in only three games. He finished that stint with zero catches on one target. Giants coach John Harbaugh later said of the decision to move on, “It just wasn’t working for us.”
The Vikings’ addition of Beckham came amid injuries at receiver and questions about depth behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jauan Jennings was ruled out with a calf injury for the Bills game, creating an opening. Beckham had been elevated once earlier in the season but was inactive.
In his career, Beckham has 575 receptions for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns across 122 games. He was selected 12th overall by the Giants in 2014, won Offensive Rookie of the Year that season and earned three Pro Bowl selections. He caught 27 passes for 305 yards and five touchdowns with the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, helping the team win Super Bowl LVI before an injury ended his postseason.
Production has declined in recent seasons. Beckham had 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He recorded nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games with the Miami Dolphins in 2024 and sat out the 2025 season. He has not recorded a regular-season catch since December 2024.
Beckham has spoken about his prior connection with Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell, who was the Rams’ offensive coordinator during the Super Bowl run. Upon signing with Minnesota, Beckham said of O’Connell, “It seemed as if he wanted me to be here and that was expressed to me.”
Minnesota’s offense ranks near the bottom of the league in scoring and passing yards. The team has relied on a strong defense while dealing with quarterback uncertainty. Murray has missed time with a hamstring injury, and Wentz has struggled to move the ball consistently.
The release frees a roster spot as the Vikings prepare for the remainder of the schedule. Beckham’s brief stay included limited practice-squad work and one game-day appearance without a statistical contribution. At 34, he continues to seek opportunities after a career that once featured some of the league’s most explosive plays.
Beckham’s path has included stops with the Giants, Browns, Rams, Ravens and Dolphins. His early-career peaks included multiple 1,000-yard seasons and a franchise-record pace for production as a rookie. Recent years have been marked by injuries, reduced snaps and brief stints.
The Vikings announced the move alongside other practice-squad transactions. No additional details on Beckham’s playing time or role in the Bills game were provided beyond the box-score totals showing zero involvement in the passing game.
Teams across the league now have the option to sign the free agent. His experience and prior success in high-leverage moments remain part of his profile, even as recent on-field output has been minimal.
The Vikings move forward with their existing receiver group as they look to address offensive consistency.
