Why did the 4-0 Vikings sign Odell Beckham Jr. after his Giants return ended with 0 catches

The Minnesota Vikings are undefeated through four games. Their offense has still given them a reason to call Odell Beckham Jr.Minnesota announced Wednesday that it signed Beckham to its practice squad, one week after the New York Giants released him. ESPN reported the move after NFL insider Jordan Schultz first broke the news. Beckham did not record a catch in three games during his Giants reunion.Why did the Vikings move so quickly to sign Odell Beckham Jr.?The standings make Minnesota's move look unusual at first. The Vikings are 4-0 entering Week 5, but ESPN reported that their offense has ranked among the NFL's worst.Justin Jefferson's health is part of the equation.Jefferson suffered a sprained left ankle in Week 3, missed Week 4 and remained questionable at best for Minnesota's Week 5 matchup with the New Orleans Saints, according to ESPN.The Vikings had already added Jauan Jennings as their No. 3 receiver behind Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Jennings, however, missed one game for personal reasons and recorded two catches for nine yards on four targets in his other three appearances.That left Minnesota looking for another option.Schultz reported that the Vikings did not wait long after the Giants released Beckham on Sept. 29."The #Vikings reached out to Odell Beckham Jr. immediately after the #Giants moved on and showed significant interest. Despite a 4-0 start, the offense has needed some juice. And OBJ will try to help bring that. His relationship with Justin Jefferson is a plus, as well."Starting Beckham on the practice squad also gives Minnesota flexibility. The Vikings can evaluate how much the 33-year-old has left without immediately handing him a major offensive role.His relationship with the coaching staff helps.Beckham and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell were together with the Los Angeles Rams when they won Super Bowl LVI. Beckham also played under Minnesota assistant head coach Frank Smith with the Miami Dolphins in 2024.Minnesota knows the player. Beckham knows people inside the building. That makes the transition less complicated than bringing in a receiver with no connection to the staff.Can Odell Beckham Jr. still help an undefeated Vikings offense that ranks among the NFL's worst?Minnesota is betting on experience, but Beckham's recent production makes this an experiment rather than a guaranteed fix.He played only 19 offensive snaps across three games for the Giants this season and did not make a catch. New York targeted him once before releasing him.Beckham also sat out the entire 2025 season. His last NFL production came with Miami in 2024, when he caught nine passes for 54 yards.There is a more encouraging recent season for Minnesota to examine.Beckham caught 35 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He has 575 receptions for 7,987 yards and 59 touchdowns across his NFL career, according to ESPN.His peak came much earlier. Beckham made three consecutive Pro Bowls to begin his career with the Giants and produced 1,450 receiving yards with 13 touchdowns in 2015. He followed that with 1,367 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2016.Minnesota does not need that version of Beckham to justify this move.The immediate question is whether he can give O'Connell another reliable target while Jefferson works back from his ankle injury. T.J. Hockenson entered Week 5 as Minnesota's leading receiver with 22 catches for 195 yards and a touchdown. Jefferson had 13 receptions for 179 yards and two scores, while Addison had 163 receiving yards.That production helps explain why an undefeated team went shopping.Beckham's first stop is the practice squad, so a Week 5 role is not guaranteed. Minnesota can now see how quickly he picks up the offense and how his body responds before deciding whether to elevate him.For a 4-0 team, the signing carries little immediate risk. For Beckham, it may be his clearest chance yet to prove his Giants reunion was not the final chapter of his NFL career.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.