The Minnesota Vikings added free agent receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad Wednesday, bringing in an experienced option while injuries affect the top of their receiving corps. Coach Kevin O'Connell did not rule out Beckham playing Sunday at the New Orleans Saints.

Minnesota's top two receivers, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, are nursing injuries. Jefferson has a sprained left ankle, while Addison is dealing with a hamstring injury that O'Connell believes is minor.

Jefferson was scheduled to participate in Wednesday's practice on a limited basis, marking his first practice participation in two weeks. His availability for Sunday's game in New Orleans has yet to be determined.

The ankle injury occurred in Week 3 and kept Jefferson out of Week 4. Addison was expected to sit out Wednesday's practice, but O'Connell said he would return to practice later this week.

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Beckham adds another option to a group that also includes Jauan Jennings, Tai Felton and Myles Price. Felton and Price, both in their second seasons, have alternated in the Nos. 4 and 5 receiver roles.

Jennings is the Vikings' No. 3 receiver, but he has caught only two passes on four targets in his first season with Minnesota. He signed with the team in May after spending the first five seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers.

Jennings also missed one game for personal reasons and has largely been an afterthought in Minnesota's passing game. O'Connell nevertheless pointed to the receiver's contributions as a blocker and expressed confidence that he would make plays.

“I think Jauan's done a lot of really good things [blocking] in the run game for us,” O'Connell said. “He's had a couple chances [in the passing game] where maybe either the rhythm and timing or just a little more detail showing up out of the group as a whole, Jauan included, [would have helped].”

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O'Connell continued his assessment of Jennings by adding: “But we're not far off, and Jauan's going to be a guy that's going to make some plays for us.”

The Vikings have started 4-0 even though their offense has ranked among the NFL's worst. Beckham's arrival gives Minnesota depth alongside Jennings, Felton and Price while the team monitors Jefferson and Addison.

O'Connell has also seen Beckham prepare on a short turnaround. During the 2021 season, Beckham appeared in a game three days after signing with the Los Angeles Rams, where O'Connell was serving as offensive coordinator.

“I've seen him do it before,” O'Connell said Wednesday. “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.”

Beckham is 33 and recently spent time with the New York Giants. He played 19 snaps across three games for the Giants without recording a catch before the team released him last week.

Before returning this season, Beckham had not played in the NFL since the 2024 season. He caught nine passes for 54 yards with the Miami Dolphins during that season and was hoping to resuscitate his career.

Beckham played his first five seasons with the Giants after the franchise selected him with the No. 12 pick in 2014. He has also played for the Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins.

Across his career, Beckham has recorded 575 catches for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns. His next opportunity could come with Minnesota as the Vikings assess their injured receivers and consider whether to elevate him for Sunday's game in New Orleans.

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