The Minnesota Vikings are making a quick move to bolster their receiver depth, elevating Odell Beckham Jr. from the practice squad as Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison both enter their game against the New Orleans Saints as questionable, according to ESPN.
That timing matters. Jefferson was limited throughout the week because of an ankle injury, while Addison’s hamstring kept him out of Wednesday’s practice and limited him in other sessions. If either star wideout can’t go, Beckham gives Minnesota another veteran option at a position that could suddenly be thin.
Beckham arrived this week and immediately found a familiar face in Kevin O’Connell. The Vikings coach was the wide receivers offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2021, when Beckham produced 27 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns in eight regular-season games. He added 21 receptions for 288 yards and four postseason games during the Rams’ Super Bowl run.
Minnesota brought Beckham in after a disappointing stint with the New York Giants. The return never matched the attention around it, and although he made the 53-man roster, he didn’t become part of the offense. In three games, he had no targets and no catches.
His last game action before this came in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, where he played in nine games, made no starts, and finished with nine receptions for 55 yards and no touchdowns. Before that, Beckham spent the 2023 season with the Baltimore Ravens, posting 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games.
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Vikings Have A Chance To Make A Statement Before The Bye
The Vikings head into the Caesars Superdome with a chance to reinforce the good work they have put together early in the season, and the setting only adds a little more weight to it. New Orleans has not defended well so far, which gives Minnesota a matchup it should feel good about as it looks to keep its momentum going before the bye.
There is also a real layer of intrigue around how Minnesotas offense might look against a defense that has had trouble keeping teams out of the end zone. The game offers a chance for the Vikings to make a clean statement on the road, with the kind of performance that can carry extra value heading into a week off, especially if one of their biggest playmakers is available. [Read more 🡒]
JaMarr Chase Still Has One Big Week 5 Hurdle
Justin Jeffersons week took a positive turn at practice, with the Vikings receiver moving from no participation last week to limited work across all three sessions as Minnesota gets ready for Week 5. He remains listed as questionable, but the trend line is better than it was a few days ago, and that alone is a meaningful step for a team that leans heavily on his availability whenever hes close to full strength.
The larger picture around the league only sharpens the attention on Jeffersons status, with other notable receivers such as DeVonta Smith, Stefon Diggs and Quentin Johnston ruled out while Malik Nabers and Mike Evans have been cleared to play. JaMarr Chase is also trending toward returning, but Jeffersons situation still carries extra weight for the Vikings as they wait to see whether progress in practice is enough to get him on the field when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Fans Still Have One Uneasy Debate Despite The Perfect Start
Through four weeks, the Vikings have given their fan base the kind of start that usually settles nerves: theyre still unbeaten and firmly in the mix as one of the NFLs last perfect teams. But a new SB Nation Reacts poll suggests the mood in Minnesota is more complicated than the record alone would indicate, with just 53% of surveyed fans saying they feel confident in the direction of the team.
The hesitation makes sense given how uneven the offense has looked lately, including a stretch in which it has managed only one offensive touchdown over the last three games. Even a late-game decision by T.J. Hockenson became part of the broader conversation, with most respondents backing his choice to slide at the 1-yard line rather than cross the goal line, a reminder that for all the wins, Vikings fans are still weighing process against patience. [Read more 🡒]