New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) celebrates during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, Aug
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (3) celebrates during a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, Aug 28, 2026, East Rutherford, NJ, USA. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
It’s official: Odell Beckham Jr. is a member of the Minnesota Vikings and he has his jersey number.
Beckham was signed to the Vikings’ practice squad on Wednesday and will now look to earn himself a role in Minnesota’s offense.
The signing of Beckham comes just a little over one week after the New York Giants cut him loose, which didn’t sit well with the veteran wideout.
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Odell Beckham Jr. gets J.J. McCarthy’s old jersey number
NFL: Tennessee Titans at New York Giants
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) warms up before the game against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
According to the team’s official website, Beckham has been assigned No. 9, which we know was the old jersey number of quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who also nicknamed himself “Nine” and ended up making himself the butt of jokes.
First look at OBJ in Vikings gear 🔥
He'll wear No. 9 on the practice squad according to the team's website. pic.twitter.com/ednFMovIHG
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 7, 2026
A former No. 10 overall pick, McCarthy’s tenure in Minnesota was a disaster and was short-lived. He was traded to the Giants for a fifth-round pick on Sept. 28, just two years after Minnesota drafted him.
McCarthy is now serving as the Giants’ backup quarterback behind Jameis Winston, who took after for Jaxson Dart after he suffered a significant knee injury.
As for Beckham, he wasn’t able to get his No. 13, at least for now, as that belongs to fellow wideout Tai Felton.
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Perhaps Beckham will try to get it from Felton, but that remains to be seen.
Odell Beckham Jr.’s outlook with Vikings
NFL: Tennessee Titans at New York Giants
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) warms up before the game against the Tennessee Titans at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Beckham is no longer the elite wide receiver he once was at the age of 33, but the Vikings don’t need him to be that.
Instead, Beckham is in Minnesota to offer some depth behind guys like Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jauan Jennings.
The Vikings haven’t gotten anything out of Jennings over the three games he has played in, with the veteran wideout tallying just two catches for nine scoreless yards, so there’s an avenue for Beckham to grab the WR3 role with the Vikings.
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Only time will tell if he’ll actually be able to do that. The former No. 12 overall pick has lost a step, to put it nicely.
You’d have to go back to 2023 for his last somewhat productive season, when he totaled 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games with the Baltimore Ravens.
Beckham followed that up with nine catches for 55 yards in nine games in 2024 with the Miami Dolphins, and then he didn’t play a single snap in the NFL in 2025.
In three games with the Giants this season, Beckham was only targeted once and did not reel it in before he was cut loose.