The Minnesota Vikings released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Tuesday, shortly after the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline. His time in Minnesota isn’t over, though. The Vikings plan to bring him back on the practice squad, The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported.
Vikings have released WR Odell Beckham Jr.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2026
Why the Vikings released Beckham
It’s about a roster spot. Minnesota needed room on the 53-man roster for quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom the Vikings reacquired from the Raiders earlier Tuesday for a 2027 third-round pick, according to Pro Football Talk.
Pelissero called the move largely procedural. Beckham is staying with the team. He just won’t take up an active roster spot for now.
The Vikings also released guard C.J. Hanson and tackle Corey Robinson II from the practice squad, per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis.
One game, two snaps
Beckham’s stint on the active roster was short. The Vikings promoted him from the practice squad before Monday night’s game against the Buffalo Bills, and he played only two snaps in the 23-6 loss, Pro Football Talk reported.
Minnesota first signed him to the practice squad on Oct. 7. He was elevated for a Week 5 trip to New Orleans but was inactive, according to Athlon.
Where Beckham’s career stands
Beckham is 33 and trying to hang on. The Giants brought him back this summer, but they released him after three games in which he had no catches on one target, NFL.com reported.
He hasn’t caught a regular-season pass since 2024, when he had nine catches for 55 yards in nine games with the Miami Dolphins, per Athlon.
It’s a long way from where he started. The Giants took Beckham 12th overall in 2014, and he won Offensive Rookie of the Year that season. He later won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams.
The waiver question
There’s one catch. Because the release came after the trade deadline, Beckham is subject to waivers under league rules, as Pro Football Rumors noted about post-deadline cuts. Another team could claim him before he returns to Minnesota’s practice squad, though that seems unlikely given his limited role this season.
What it means for the Vikings
The main story in Minnesota is at quarterback. Cousins takes over an offense that has struggled all season, as we covered in our Vikings quarterback breakdown. Beckham stays around as depth in a receiver room that has needed help behind Justin Jefferson.
For every deadline move and our grades, see our trade deadline winners and losers.
Join the conversation