Vikings Keep Odell Beckham Jr. on Practice Squad
Minnesota did not elevate the veteran receiver from the practice squad for Week 8, delaying any possible debut.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Football
The Minnesota Vikings did not elevate Odell Beckham Jr. from the practice squad for Week 8. Beckham Jr. must wait at least another week before potentially making his Vikings debut.
Why it matters
The decision leaves the veteran receiver on the practice squad as the Vikings weigh his roster status. Beckham Jr. has had a turbulent recent stretch, including a season unsigned and a six-game suspension.
Beckham Jr. can be elevated two more times this League Year under the three-game limit, and the Vikings must announce elevations by 4 p.m. ET the day before a game. The extraction does not say whether Minnesota intends to use those remaining elevations.
The players
Odell Beckham Jr.
A veteran wide receiver known for his acrobatic catches with the New York Giants, now on the Vikings practice squad.
Minnesota Vikings
The NFL franchise based in Minneapolis that is deciding whether to elevate Beckham Jr. to its active roster.
John Harbaugh
The Giants head coach who said the Beckham Jr. signing was not working for the team and did not think it would improve the roster.
The details
Beckham Jr. was unsigned for the 2025 season after a six-game suspension for a PED violation and his release by the Miami Dolphins in 2024. The Giants signed him to a one-year deal in the 2026 offseason, released him after three games without a catch, and the Vikings then added him to their practice squad and elevated him for Week 5 against the Saints, where he was inactive.
Timeline
2024: Released by the Miami Dolphins before the season concluded.
2025: Unsigned for the full season after a six-game suspension.
2026 offseason: Signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants.
Week 5: Elevated by the Vikings for the Saints game but inactive.
Week 8: Not elevated for the Lions matchup.
Season Trajectory
Practice squad elevation limits restrict how many times a team can use a player like Beckham Jr. before committing to him on the active roster. For Minnesota, the remaining two elevations shape how the team manages depth at receiver during the stretch run.
Beckham Jr. can be elevated for two more games, so the Vikings' next elevation decision will determine whether he is available as depth at receiver. Fantasy managers should note that he has no recorded catches in three Giants games and has been inactive in his only Vikings elevation so far.
The takeaway
Roster depth moves like practice squad elevations can change quickly, so watch the weekly announcements before assuming a player's status. Beckham Jr.'s next elevation window will show whether Minnesota sees him as a real option at receiver.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster moves, see Football coverage in Minneapolis.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
