Vikings' Kevin O'Connell makes bold Odell Beckham Jr. claim for Saints game after surprise signing

The Minnesota Vikings revealed some unexpected news when they confirmed on Wednesday that they had signed veteran wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad.

Minnesota's bye arrives in Week 6, so some understandably thought the Vikings could use that break to get Beckham ready to make his in-game debut for the club. However, it sounds like Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell may not wait to see what Beckham can do against a live defense. 

Kevin O'Connell keeping Odell Beckham Jr. option for Saints game open

Per Kevin Seifert of ESPN, O'Connell suggested that Beckham could be elevated to the active roster when the 4-0 Vikings play at the 1-3 New Orleans Saints this coming Sunday. Seifert noted that O'Connell was serving as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator during the 2021 season when Beckham appeared in a game three days after he signed with that club. 

"I've seen him do it before," O'Connell said about Beckham quickly getting himself ready to play. "The good thing about our system is we've got some mechanisms that either he can quickly learn, and know those are absolutes if we need to go that route in the game, if he were to be elevated."

Over three September games with the New York Giants, Beckham recorded a single target and zero receptions. Before that, he hadn't played in a regular-season game since December 2024.

Kevin O'Connell explains Odell Beckham Jr. signing

Vikings No. 1 wide receiver Justin Jefferson didn't play in Minnesota's Week 4 win over the Miami Dolphins due to a sprained left ankle, and it's unclear if he'll be able to go against New Orleans. Meanwhile, Minnesota WR2 Jordan Addison is dealing with a hamstring injury that presumably could keep him from playing against the Saints.

"I think just being a little banged up in that receiver room and just knowing how we can be a player or two away from needing to call upon guys to be elevated and make plays, and the fact that we could bring Odell in on our practice squad and start getting him acclimated to our offense," O'Connell said about the Vikings signing Beckham, per Eduardo Razo of Heavy. "Obviously, I have a great history with him going back to 2021, spending a lot of time with him when he came in midseason and getting him ready to help us, and just how impactful he was down the stretch of that season. Really great job by [Vikings general manager Nolan Teasley] and his staff getting a player of Odell’s caliber in here, and just excited to get him going." 

As of Wednesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Vikings as 1.5-point road favorites over the Saints.