The Minnesota Vikings have moved to retain Odell Beckham Jr. on their practice squad, re-signing the veteran receiver less than two days after releasing him to clear space for quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The development, reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz on Wednesday, keeps the three-time Pro Bowl wideout in the organization as Minnesota pushes toward the postseason.
The sequence unfolded quickly. Beckham had been elevated to the active roster for Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills and appeared for two offensive snaps in the 23-6 loss, though he was not targeted.
The following day, the Vikings terminated his contract after acquiring Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick.
That transaction created an immediate roster vacancy on the 53-man roster, but the team never intended a permanent separation.
Insider Tom Pelissero indicated Tuesday that Minnesota planned to bring Beckham back onto the practice squad, and Schultz’s Wednesday update confirmed the signing while adding that the club expects the receiver to factor into the offense during the second half of the season.
Beckham, 34, first joined Minnesota’s practice squad on October 7 after the New York Giants released him following three games without a catch.
His arrival was facilitated in part by his prior relationship with head coach Kevin O’Connell, who coached him during the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl-winning campaign in 2021.
That postseason, Beckham recorded 21 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
The familiarity helped open the door in Minnesota, where he has remained while the Vikings navigate injuries and seek greater production from their passing game.
His current form offers limited evidence of an immediate impact.
Beckham has yet to record a reception this season, and his most recent catches came with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, when he finished with nine receptions for 55 yards.
Still, his career totals—575 receptions, 7,987 yards, and 59 touchdowns—reflect a résumé that once placed him among the league’s elite receivers.
The practice-squad placement means he must be elevated or signed to the active roster before he can play, so any contribution will depend on further roster decisions.
Minnesota’s next game comes Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, a divisional contest that could mark Cousins’ return to the Vikings’ offense after his six previous seasons with the franchise.
Whether Beckham joins him on the field remains uncertain, but the team’s decision to keep the veteran available signals a willingness to lean on experienced depth as it attempts to stabilize its attack for a late-season run.
