Beckham has quickly learned Minnesota’s offense and established chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray after signing with the Vikings earlier this week, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. “Sources say Odell Beckham Jr. has quickly picked up the #Vikings’ offense and has developed a good connection with Kyler Murray as well. It’s a pretty cool homecoming for OBJ, who grew up in New Orleans.”

Beckham joined Minnesota on Wednesday following his surprise release from the New York Giants last Tuesday. His quick turnaround gives him an opportunity to make an impact only days after joining a Vikings team that has opened the season with four consecutive victories.

Beckham’s debut with the Vikings

The matchup also carries additional significance for Beckham. The veteran receiver grew up in New Orleans before starring at LSU and beginning an NFL career that has included stops with several teams, making this a significant return.

While Beckham‘s role in his Vikings debut remains to be seen, his early connection with Murray could allow Minnesota to incorporate him into the offense sooner than expected. The 33-year-old gives the Vikings another experienced option in their receiving corps as they attempt to remain unbeaten.

The confidence behind Beckham comes with clear reasons. Beckham largely dominated the NFL during his first stint with the Giants (2014-2018). He made three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro Second Teams and posted 1,000+ yards in every season except 2017, which ended early due to a fractured left ankle.

The Vikings (4-0) will look to extend their hot start when visiting New Orleans (1-3) in Week 5. Beckham could make his Vikings debut in his hometown as Minnesota seeks its fifth consecutive victory to open the 2026 season.

Key takeaways

• Odell Beckham Jr. was elevated from the practice squad by the Minnesota Vikings.
• Kyler Murray established quick chemistry with Odell Beckham Jr. in Minnesota.
• Week 5 features Minnesota (4-0) visiting New Orleans (1-3) for Beckham’s potential debut.

The decision comes as Minnesota deals with uncertainty surrounding its top two wide receivers. Justin Jefferson is listed as questionable with an ankle injury, while Jordan Addison carries the same designation because of a hamstring issue. With both players potentially unavailable, the Vikings are preparing for different scenarios as they look to maintain their offensive production.

NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported the move, explaining that Beckham’s elevation provides additional insurance for Minnesota’s receiving corps. The former New York Giants star recently joined the Vikings after being released by his previous team, and his familiarity with head coach Kevin O’Connell from their time with the Los Angeles Rams could help him adapt quickly if called upon.

Will Odell Beckham Jr. play for Vikings vs Saints?

Pelissero confirmed that Minnesota has elevated Beckham to its active roster for Sunday’s game, but he emphasized that the receiver’s participation has not yet been determined. The move gives the Vikings another option at wide receiver while they wait for clarity on Jefferson and Addison, both of whom remain questionable on the final injury report.

“The Vikings are elevating WR Odell Beckham Jr. from the practice squad for Sunday’s game at New Orleans, per sources. Still TBD if OBJ will play. But the move provides insurance with both Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison listed as questionable.”

Beckham’s potential role will depend largely on the availability of Minnesota’s leading receivers. Jefferson missed the Vikings’ previous game while recovering from his ankle injury, and Addison has also been managing his hamstring problem. If either player cannot suit up, Beckham could provide valuable depth for quarterback Kyler Murray, who would benefit from having another experienced target available against New Orleans.

The move also represents another opportunity for Beckham to revive his NFL career after a brief and unproductive return to the Giants. He recorded no catches on one target across three games with New York before his release, but his experience and previous connection with O’Connell offer Minnesota a low-risk option. Whether Beckham makes his Vikings debut on Sunday remains to be seen, but the team has taken the necessary step to make him available if needed.

Key takeaways

• The Vikings elevated Odell Beckham Jr. from the practice squad before playing New Orleans.
• Receivers Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are both questionable with injuries.
• Beckham recorded zero catches on one target across three games with the Giants.

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, “Most of the league projected Reese as an outside linebacker coming out of Ohio State, but the Giants saw him as an inside linebacker.” Reese told ESPN this week that he recalls only two teams telling him he would be an inside linebacker at the NFL level: the Giants and Minnesota Vikings.

“Everyone else pretty much said ‘he’s an edge guy,” Reese said. Hence, this was a next-level read for the Giants, who have a potential Defensive Rookie of the Year in their hands. To be fair with the rest of the franchises, Reese did say at the NFL scouting combine that he was an oustide linebacker/edge.

Where did Reese play for Ohio State in CFB?

Reese played 238 snaps as an inside linebacker, and 356 as an outside linebacker in his final year with the Buckeyes. So, he wasn’t really lying. However, it’s still plenty of snaps played at ILB. The Giants received positive feedback on Reese for his performance.

For Giants head coach John Harbaugh, it’s easy, “I would answer it this way — that’s what he played. So, it was easy. You watched him on tape and he played it really well… but he played it really well at Ohio State against the best teams in the country in a pretty complicated defensive system that they have over there. So, yeah, it was, to me, the evidence was right there,” he said.

Reese is a clear-cut game-changer for the NY Giants

Reese has absolutely transformed the New York Giants defense and emerged as a frontrunner for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Selected No. 5 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, he has quickly silenced critics who questioned the Giants’ decision to play him as an off-ball, inside linebacker rather than a pure edge rusher.

Oh and by the way, according to Reese, this isn’t even close to his best level. In fact, he labeled his Week 4 breakout performance as just “decent.” Therefore the Giants must be ecstatic to see what “good” or “great” looks like for Reese.

Key takeaways

• Arvell Reese posted nine solo tackles and his first career interception in Week 4.
• Only the Giants and Vikings projected Reese as an inside linebacker during pre-draft evaluations.
• Head coach John Harbaugh praised Reese’s film against top collegiate programs at Ohio State.

Beckham emphasized the importance of having a coach who genuinely believes in him, pointing to head coach Kevin O’Connell as a key reason why the opportunity came together. They already worked together with the Rams. While he did not directly criticize the Giants, his remarks could be interpreted as a contrast with his experience in New York, where opportunities to make an impact were limited.

“He had extreme confidence and belief (O’Connell). It’s always good to be somewhere where you want it. He was the one who reached out and kind of made this whole thing happen. It seemed as if he wanted me to be here. It always feels better when you’re doing it for somebody where it feels like their heart is there for it as well.”

Why did the Giants release Odell Beckham Jr.?

Odell Beckham’s comments are particularly notable because of what John Harbaugh previously said about his role in New York. The Giants head coach acknowledged that the team had not given the veteran receiver enough opportunities, taking responsibility for how the situation unfolded rather than placing the blame solely on the player. There was nothing wrong at practice with the veteran.

Harbaugh summed up that accountability with a brief statement: “put it on us.” His explanation suggested that the coaching staff recognized Beckham had not been put in a position to make the kind of impact the team had hoped for when he joined the organization.

With the Vikings, Beckham appears to have found a situation in which the head coach actively pushed to bring him aboard. His words about wanting to play for someone whose commitment feels genuine may therefore be seen as a subtle contrast with his time with the Giants, even though he stopped short of directly criticizing Harbaugh or New York. Minnesota now offers him another opportunity to show what he can do when he feels the organization is fully invested in him.

Key takeaways

• Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the Minnesota Vikings after feeling genuinely wanted by Kevin O’Connell.
• Giants head coach John Harbaugh took full responsibility for Odell Beckham Jr.’s limited role, saying “put it on us.”
• Odell Beckham Jr. expressed appreciation for playing under a coach whose heart is fully invested.

The other two main weapons Kyler Murray has at his disposal through the air are Jordan Addison and veteran Jauan Jennings, who most recently played for the San Francisco 49ers. Further down the receiving corps are Tai Felton and Myles Price.

The Vikings added not only experience, but also a key piece to their passing-game rotation. Beckham Jr. gets a chance at redemption after being released by the G-Men, and he will look to earn more playing time in this new chapter of his career.

OBJ’s departure from the Giants

Odell Beckham Jr.’s hope of wearing a Giants uniform again lasted only a moment. Although the wide receiver did make the final 53-man roster for this season, his stay in East Rutherford lasted only a handful of games.

His limited playing time, combined with the number and quality of receivers ahead of him in New York, led John Harbaugh and his staff to make the decision to release the veteran. Now, under the guidance of O’Connell, who knows him from his time with the Los Angeles Rams, he has a new opportunity in his career.

When could OBJ make his debut?

Following their Week 4 win over Miami, the Minnesota Vikings’ next three games include a Week 5 road matchup against the New Orleans Saints on October 11, followed by a Week 6 bye before returning home to host the Indianapolis Colts on October 25.

They then hit the road again to take on the Detroit Lions in a division clash on November 1. If Odell Beckham Jr. gets activated by Minnesota, he could realistically make his debut as early as the Saints game, though the Week 7 matchup against Indianapolis after the bye week provides an ideal window to get fully up to speed with the offense.

Key takeaways

• The Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to strengthen their depth chart.
• The New York Giants released Odell Beckham Jr. due to limited playing time.
• Odell Beckham Jr. could debut as early as October 11 against the Saints.

The move comes after Beckham’s second stint with the Giants lasted only three games. New York released the 33-year-old after he played just 20 offensive snaps and recorded only one target without making a catch. The decision was especially notable because Beckham had made the Giants’ initial 53-man roster after returning to the team that drafted him in 2014.

Schultz reported that the Vikings were immediately interested in Beckham and believe he could provide another element to an offense that has helped Minnesota begin the season with a perfect 4-0 record. His existing relationship with Justin Jefferson could also make the transition to Minnesota more appealing as the veteran receiver looks for another opportunity.

Which team signed Odell Beckham Jr.?

The Vikings are signing Odell Beckham Jr. Schultz was the first to report the shocking move, explaining that Minnesota quickly made contact after his release from New York and believe he can provide some much-needed energy to the offense.

“BREAKING: Odell Beckham Jr. is signing with the Vikings, per sources. 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.”

However, there is an important distinction to the initial report. Adam Schefter subsequently clarified that Beckham is being signed to the Vikings’ practice squad, meaning this is not yet an addition to Minnesota’s active roster. The Vikings will have an opportunity to work with Beckham and evaluate how he fits before potentially elevating him for a game.

For Beckham, the move represents a quick turnaround after an unexpected ending in New York. He was reportedly surprised by the Giants’ decision to release him, but he now has another chance with an undefeated Vikings team that is looking for more production and explosiveness on offense. His connection with Jefferson could also give Minnesota an intriguing veteran presence as the season continues.

Key takeaways

• Minnesota Vikings signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after his New York Giants release.
• Beckham played just 20 offensive snaps without a catch during three games with New York.
• Insider Adam Schefter clarified that Beckham is joining Minnesota’s practice squad, not active roster.

The Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, and Minnesota Vikings are the ones who maintained their undefeated status this week, though other teams had the opportunity to join them.

The Buffalo Bills were also candidates to stay undefeated, but they lost to the New England Patriots in a tight matchup that knocked them off their perch. The situation for the Las Vegas Raiders was different, as they faced the Chiefs in a head-to-head battle for unbeaten status.

How the undefeated earned their victories

Starting with the Kansas City Chiefs, they earned a big 30-27 win over the Raiders that was decided by execution and timely offensive plays, featuring a strong performance from Kenneth Walker.

Then come the 49ers, who defeated the Denver Broncos 24-14, looking very strong on offensive plays that defined the contest before holding up well defensively in the second half.

Finally, the Minnesota Vikings beat the Miami Dolphins 15-10 in a hard-fought game that can be viewed two ways: elite defensive play or struggling offenses on both sides. Either way, the victory is what counts, and nothing is better than staying undefeated.

The other side of the coin: The 0-4 NFL teams in 2026

On the flip side are the teams sitting at 0-4. The Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans (who lost to the Baltimore Ravens), Houston Texans (who lost to the Dallas Cowboys), and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (who lost to the Green Bay Packers) all remain winless this season.

Key takeaways

• Three NFL teams remained undefeated at 4-0 through Week 4.
• A 30-27 victory was earned by Kansas City over the Raiders.
• Four franchises remain winless at 0-4 on the season.

With Achane sidelined for the remainder of the 2026 NFL season, the Dolphins will need the rest of their running-back corps to step up. Entering Week 4, the Phins’ RB depth chart includes Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon, and Carlos Rodriguez Jr. The latter was a practice-squad call-up on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s second-slate game against the Vikings.

Although both Wright and Gordon are intriguing young players, they aren’t quite at Achane’s level. Without the talent out of Texas A&M, Miami may really be without any firepower to take on the Vikings defense, led by blitz-maniac and familiar face Brian Flores.

The Dolphins won’t be the only side missing their best player on offense, though. The Vikings will have a significant absence of their own as Justin Jeffersson is out for Week 4 against Miami with a left ankle sprain.

Wright and Gordon’s production

With Achane out of the picture for the entire 2026 NFL season, the Dolphins will need their supporting cast to step up. Clearly, they won’t place all their eggs in one basket. Instead, the Fins will give carries to both Gordon and Wright, riding the hot hand, if there even is one.

So far this season, Gordon has 20 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown, while Wright has just three carries for 10 yards. Most of Gordon’s usage came after Achane left Week 3 injured. Most likely, he will be the first running back option against the Vikings, too. However, that could change if Wright gets off to a better start than Gordon.

Without Achane available, there is no clear-cut HB1 in Miami’s offense, and it could all be subject to change based on who is playing better.

Key takeaways

• Torn ACL rules out Miami Dolphins running back for the entire 2026 season.
• Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon, and Carlos Rodriguez Jr. compose the RB depth chart.
• Ollie Gordon recorded 20 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown before Week 4.

Jefferson’s issues date back to the Vikings’ Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, specifically involving a sprained left ankle. Although Kevin O’Connell revealed that his star wide receiver is “definitely feeling better,” the plan is to have him back for the next game.

“We’ll see how he comes in,” the head coach said after Friday’s practice. “He’s going to get treatment throughout the next couple days and the goal is try to get him back out there practicing next week. I know it’s a big one for him next week going to Louisiana.”

Kyler Murray’s available receivers

Although Jefferson’s absence could be a major setback for the Vikings, Kyler Murray knows he has several options available in the passing game. The main targets in this department are Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.

Jefferson’s absence will be felt

Losing Justin Jefferson is a massive gut punch to the Vikings’ passing game and offensive structure. Through the first three games of the 2026 season, Jefferson hauled in 13 receptions on 17 targets for 179 yards and 2 touchdowns, continuing to draw top coverage and command the defense’s full focus.

Beyond his raw numbers, his absence completely alters how opposing defenses play Minnesota—without his game-breaking route running and gravity stretching the field, safety help can slide into the box to stifle the run game, forcing the rest of the receiving corps to beat tight single coverage on every down.

Key takeaways

• Ankle injury sidelines Justin Jefferson for Minnesota’s Week 4 game against Miami.
• Practice next week remains the goal for the receiver ahead of the New Orleans Saints matchup.
• 13 receptions for 179 yards were recorded by Jefferson over the first three games.
  

Jefferson sustained the injury during Minnesota’s 23-16 victory over Tampa Bay and did not practice during the week. Although the Vikings initially remained hopeful that he could recover in time, head coach Kevin O’Connell ultimately confirmed that Jefferson would not be ready for Sunday’s matchup.

The positive news is that Minnesota does not appear to be dealing with a long-term injury. O’Connell has already identified Week 5 against the New Orleans Saints as the target for Jefferson’s return, giving the receiver another important reason to push toward getting back on the field.

When will Justin Jefferson return?

Kevin O’Connell said the Vikings will take a cautious approach with Justin Jefferson over the next few days before determining whether he can return to practice ahead of the Saints game. The goal is for the star receiver to begin working next week and potentially make his return in New Orleans.

“We’ll see how he comes in. He’s going to get treatment throughout the next couple days and the goal is try to get him back out there practicing next week. I know it’s a big one for him next week going to Louisiana.”

The Week 5 matchup carries particular significance for Jefferson. The Vikings will travel to New Orleans to face the Saints, giving the receiver an opportunity to return to his home state. Jefferson starred at LSU before entering the NFL and remains closely connected to Louisiana, making the game a special one for him.

For now, Minnesota will have to find a way to replace Jefferson’s production against Miami. Through the first three games of the season, he had recorded 13 receptions for 179 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Vikings in receiving categories. Jordan Addison and the rest of Minnesota’s pass catchers will have to take on larger roles in his absence.

The Vikings will not rush Jefferson back simply because the Saints game has additional meaning. O’Connell’s comments indicate that the priority is getting the receiver healthy enough to practice and play at his normal level, with Week 5 representing the current target rather than a guarantee.

Key takeaways

• Justin Jefferson has been ruled out of the Week 4 game against Miami.
• The wide receiver suffered a sprained left ankle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
• Head coach Kevin O’Connell targeted Week 5 against the Saints for his return.

Brosmer is familiar with the organization after spending the entire offseason with the Vikings. He initially made the 53-man roster as one of four quarterbacks before being waived and subsequently joining Minnesota’s practice squad.

With McCarthy now in New York, the Vikings needed another quarterback on the active roster. Brosmer now takes that spot and will serve as Minnesota’s emergency quarterback behind Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz.

Who did the Vikings just sign?

The Vikings just signed Max Brosmer. As a consequence, their depth chart is now set after J.J. McCarthy’s trade. Kyler Murray remains the Vikings’ starting quarterback and will enter the next stretch of the season as Minnesota’s QB1. Carson Wentz will continue as the primary backup, giving the team an experienced option behind Murray.

Brosmer now moves into the third spot on the depth chart. His familiarity with the Vikings’ system should help him transition back to the active roster after spending time on the practice squad.

The quarterback has already seen NFL action, appearing in seven games and making two starts during the 2025 season. With McCarthy’s departure, Brosmer now becomes the emergency option for the Vikings while the team moves forward with Murray as its starter and Wentz as the backup.

Key takeaways

• Max Brosmer signed to Minnesota’s 53-man roster following a trade.
• J.J. McCarthy was traded to the New York Giants.
• Brosmer will be QB3 in the Vikings’ depth chart.