Key Takeaways
- The Minnesota Vikings released Odell Beckham Jr. on November 10 after he played just two snaps in their 23–6 loss to Buffalo, but reportedly plan to re-sign him to the practice squad.
- Minnesota made the move to create roster space for newly acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins, while Beckham has recorded zero catches across four games with the Giants and Vikings in 2026.
- Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell recruited Beckham after his Giants release, prompting the receiver to say, “It’s always good to be somewhere where you’re wanted,” though that welcome hasn’t translated into playing time.
Odell Beckham Jr. finally got onto the field for the Minnesota Vikings, and two snaps later, he was back on the transaction wire. The team released the veteran wide receiver on Tuesday, November 10, following his brief appearance against the Buffalo Bills.
But before anyone writes off OBJ's latest NFL comeback, there's a catch: Minnesota reportedly plans to bring him right back.
According to Bleacher Report, the Vikings released Beckham after the team’s 23-6 loss to Buffalo, during which the 34-year-old played just two offensive snaps without recording a reception. The outlet subsequently reported that Minnesota intends to re-sign Beckham to its practice squad, meaning his departure from the active roster isn't necessarily the end of his time with the franchise.
The move comes as Minnesota makes room for quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom the Vikings recently acquired in a trade. Beckham had been elevated from the practice squad, so his reported return would effectively restore the arrangement he had before facing the Bills.
And while the roster mechanics explain the move, they don't make Beckham's latest stat line any less striking.
Four games. Two teams. Zero catches.
That's where OBJ stands in 2026 after a highly publicized reunion with the New York Giants and a second chance with Minnesota. His Vikings debut produced just two snaps, following three appearances in New York in which he played a combined 19 offensive snaps and received only one target.
The situation is a far cry from the optimism surrounding Beckham's arrival in Minnesota last month.
After the Giants released him Sept. 29, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell personally reached out to bring Beckham aboard. The two already had history, having won Super Bowl LVI together with the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, when O'Connell served as offensive coordinator.
"It's always good to be somewhere where you're wanted," Beckham told reporters after signing with Minnesota. "He was the one who reached out and kind of made this whole thing happen."
The comments were particularly pointed given how Beckham's Giants homecoming ended.
OBJ spent the offseason fighting for a roster spot after missing the entire 2025 campaign. He impressed coach John Harbaugh enough during training camp to earn a place on New York's 53-man roster, but barely saw the field once the regular season began.
After his release, Beckham suggested the Giants got more out of the publicity surrounding his return than he did from the opportunity.
"They got me," he wrote on Instagram. "They won."
"I shoulda known better," he added, arguing that he could have been playing elsewhere and making an impact.
Minnesota appeared to offer that fresh start, although the playing time hasn't followed.
It's a remarkable contrast for a receiver who once made impossible catches look routine. Beckham earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections to begin his career and became a household name after his gravity-defying one-handed touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in 2014.
