Jeshaun Jones
Odell Beckham Jr.
Jeshaun Jones spent the first three weeks of the season on the league’s suspended list. He joined the 53-man roster last week after his suspension ended and was released from the roster on Tuesday. Now, he’s back on the practice squad.
Jeshaun Jones joining the practice squad wasn’t the move that received league-wide attention. That was the signing of Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad. At 33, and a few years removed from impacting games, Beckham still gets attention. I guess it’s an indication of the star that he once was and personality that he still is. The New York Giants selected Beckham 12th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. He ripped up the league immediately with postseason honors each of his first three seasons. After five years in New York, Beckham bounced to Cleveland for 2.5 years. He joined the Los Angeles Rams during the 2021 season. There, he met and played for then Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. Beckham quickly established a role with that stacked Rams team. It was a role that contributed to the team rolling to Super Bowl LVI. Just as it looked like Beckham was going to contend for MVP of the big game, he tore his ACL. It’s an injury that ended his Super Bowl and took away his 2022 season. It was the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 and the Miami Dolphins in 2024. No team in 2025. He returned to the New York Giants for the 2026 season. The reunion lasted three games. The last time Beckham played near a Beckham-level with the Ravens in 2023. At 33, his days are behind him. Perhaps he can still flash the freaky talent that he once had. Perhaps playing with long-time Louisiana and LSU pal Justin Jefferson will rekindle some of the magic that he once had. Perhaps his familiarity with O’Connell will ease the transition to a new team.
The Vikings signing Odell Beckham Jr. to the practice squad is no great commitment. It’s probably more like a prolonged job interview. His veteran presence can be a benefit. He’s a playful individual and his long-time friendship with Justin Jefferson could be fun. I think that he’s too far removed from his impact days for his sometimes problematic personality to be a problem. Some have speculated that Beckham’s signing might be an indication that Jefferson’s ankle injury is more serious than reported. Why does there always have to be a negative reason for a move? I believe that Beckham’s signing is more an opportunity to see if a player still has some magic left. The Vikings offense could use a boost. I think it’s far more likely that Jauan Jennings finally makes an impact as a third receiver than Beckham seeing the field as the fourth or fifth. While it’d be fun to see two Louisiana and LSU legends on the field together, I believe that signing Beckham to the practice squad is simply an opportunity to see if he has anything left. I believe that expectations have been set low.
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