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Vikings Sign OBJ to Practice Squad
Confirmed
In Short: The Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad.
Odell Beckham Jr. has signed with the Minnesota Vikings to join their practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.
Beckham, 33, was released by the New York Giants after playing just 19 snaps in three games and recording zero catches and zero targets.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell's familiarity with Beckham from his time with the Los Angeles Rams could be a factor in the signing.
Beckham's brief stint with the Giants was marked by limited playing time and no impact on the field.
The Vikings are looking to bolster their receiving corps, especially with Justin Jefferson dealing with an ankle injury.
Beckham's career stats include 575 catches for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns over 122 games with the Giants, Dolphins, Ravens, Rams, and Browns.
The Vikings already had receivers Michael Briscoe and Dillon Bell on the practice squad, but Beckham adds a more established option.
Beckham expressed his disappointment on social media after being released by the Giants, indicating he was caught off guard by the decision.
The Vikings' offense, which has struggled with quarterback Kyler Murray, could benefit from Beckham's experience and skill.
Beckham's signing comes as the Vikings prepare for a game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.
The Giants traded for quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round draft choice, adding another layer of intrigue to Beckham's departure.
What this adds
The Vikings' decision to sign Beckham to the practice squad rather than the active roster suggests they are testing his fit within the team.
Background
The New York Giants have released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after his return to the team was marked by limited playing time.
What's confirmed
- The Minnesota Vikings have signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.
- The Vikings did already have receivers Michael Briscoe and Dillon Bell on the practice squad, but Beckham gives them a more established option.
- The New York Giants have added an important piece to their quarterback room by trading for J.J.
What's still developing
- That concluded a brief second stint with New York after initially signing with the club on June 1 and making the opening 53-man roster.
- Head coach John Harbaugh said following Beckham's release that it just "wasn't working for us." Now, Beckham gets a fresh start in Minnesota, where he does have some familiarity with the coaching staff, specifically head coach Kevin O'Connell.
- Specifically, the veteran pass catcher will join Minnesota's practice squad.
- Judging by his social media activity following his release, Beckham was less than thrilled about his return to the Giants being cut short.
- During the club's run to a Super Bowl LVI title, Beckham took it to another level, catching 21 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
- OBJ isn’t giving up on getting more, though, even after his recent release from the New York Giants.
- Beckham, 33, played only 20 snaps on offense and drew just one target, which came during the Giants’ 12-7 victory against the Tennessee Titans on Sept.
- The Giants selected Beckham with the 12th overall pick out of LSU in 2014, and he became one of the league’s most productive receivers almost immediately.
- After not playing in the NFL last season, the popular “OBJ” made the Giants’ initial 53-man roster out of training camp but was unable to make an impact in his second tenure with the franchise.
- Minnesota also added wideout Jeshaun Jones to its practice squad.
- “I’m super smart, but I didn’t see this one my brotha,” Beckham wrote to an Instagram user with the account name Bcas.
- As for the starting quarterback position, a report on the Giants explained what McCarthy’s trade means for Winston on the depth chart.