The Minnesota Vikings spent part of Monday taking a long look at more veteran wide receiver options after adding Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad last week.
The biggest name in for the workout was Juju Smith-Schuster, who was joined by D’Wayne Eskridge and Dayton Wade. Smith-Schuster is entering his 10th NFL season after the Pittsburgh Steelers made him a second-round pick in 2017.
His first career touchdown came against Minnesota in Week 2 of that rookie year, when the Steelers beat the Vikings in Case Keenum’s first start of the season. Smith-Schuster spent his first five seasons in Pittsburgh before moving on to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022, then the New England Patriots in 2023, and then back to Kansas City for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
He had been with the New York Giants, but they released him in August. For his career, he has 481 catches for 5,624 yards and 33 touchdowns.
Eskridge arrived with a much thinner pro resume. Seattle took him in the second round in 2021, but injuries and availability issues have limited his impact.
He had two separate stints on injured reserve, one in 2021 with a concussion and another in 2022 with a broken hand. He also served a six-game suspension to open the 2023 season for a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy tied to an incident involving the mother of his child.
The Seahawks waived him in August of 2024, and he later spent parts of the 2024 and 2025 seasons with the Miami Dolphins.
Wade is still trying to find his first NFL game. The former Western Kentucky receiver went undrafted in 2024 and spent parts of the 2024 and 2025 seasons on the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad.
Minnesota also brought in former North Dakota State quarterback Cam Miller. The Las Vegas Raiders picked him in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the Miami Dolphins later signed him off the Raiders’ practice squad late in the 2025 season.
Miami waived him this offseason during final cuts. With Max Brosmer moved to the active roster after the J.J.
McCarthy trade, the Vikings may be looking to add a quarterback to the practice squad, which makes Miller a logical workout candidate.
There was one departure, too. Running back Audric Estime was signed off the Vikings’ practice squad by the Cleveland Browns. Minnesota signed Estime on 30 September, but his time in purple is already over.
All in all, it was a busy start to the bye week for the Vikings as they sort through roster possibilities and head into the break.
In Other News...
Vikings Defense Is Starting To Look Like Every Offenses Nightmare
Minnesotas defense spent Sunday looking like the kind of unit opposing offenses would rather avoid altogether. In a 23-13 win over the Saints, Byron Murphy Jr. turned in a strong night in the secondary, while linebacker Blake Cashman and the rest of the group helped keep New Orleans out of rhythm and fed a Vikings team that went into its bye week without a loss.
What made it stand out was how little the Saints were able to build, even with a young quarterback trying to settle in. Tyler Shough never found much room to operate, and Minnesotas coverage and pursuit kept the pressure on from start to finish. Murphys two interceptions were the headline, but the bigger story for the Vikings is that this defense is starting to look consistent enough to carry real weight as the season moves forward. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Stay Unbeaten As Their Defense Sends A Clear Message
The Vikings kept their unbeaten start alive Sunday with a 23-13 win over the Saints, and once again the story was about a defense that keeps making life miserable for opponents. Minnesotas offense did enough to stay in control, but the tone of the game was set by a unit that never let New Orleans find much rhythm and helped push the Vikings to 5-0 heading into their Week 6 bye.
Aaron Jones gave Minnesota an important fourth-quarter cushion with an 8-yard touchdown run, and Will Reichard later added a 55-yard field goal to help close it out. For a team that keeps stacking wins while waiting for its next test, the bigger message is getting harder to miss: the Vikings are not just surviving the early season, theyre dictating how games are played. [Read more 🡒]
Justin Jefferson Just Lost A Record To A Vikings Rival
Justin Jefferson has long been the benchmark for early-career production at wide receiver, but one of his records has now been overtaken by a familiar NFC North rival. Amon-Ra St. Brown has kept piling up catches since entering the league in 2021, and his steady output has put him in position to pass a mark that once belonged to Jefferson.
The new standard arrived during the Lions Week 5 game and was later confirmed by Detroits public relations account, underscoring just how consistent St. Brown has been from the start. For the Vikings, it is another reminder that the divisions top pass catchers are still trading blows, and Jeffersons place atop that list no longer looks quite as secure. [Read more 🡒]
