Vikings Evaluate JuJu Smith Schuster for Receiver Depth

The Minnesota Vikings are evaluating additional options at wide receiver after working out veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster on October 12, 2026. According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the 29-year-old visited Minnesota as the team assesses its receiving depth following injuries and recent roster changes during the 2026 NFL season.

Smith-Schuster is a free agent after the New York Giants released him on August 18, following his arrival in June. The Vikings have also added veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to their practice squad, with the possibility of further personnel moves as the team evaluates its options.

According to reports from NBC Sports, Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report, Sportsnaut and The Big Lead, Smith-Schuster's workout comes as Minnesota manages injuries affecting several receivers. Jordan Addison missed the team's game against the New Orleans Saints with a hamstring injury, while Justin Jefferson returned after missing the previous game with an ankle injury.

Jefferson caught seven passes for 79 yards and a touchdown against New Orleans, according to Bleacher Report. Addison's absence left Minnesota assessing its available options, although The Big Lead reported that he was expected to be ready after the team's Week 6 bye.

Beckham, who joined Minnesota's practice squad after his release from the Giants, was elevated to the active roster ahead of the New Orleans game, according to Bleacher Report. Smith-Schuster could offer another experienced option, but the workout alone does not establish that the Vikings will sign him.

Smith-Schuster entered the NFL as a second-round selection, No. 62 overall, by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 NFL Draft. He spent his first five seasons in Pittsburgh, recording 323 receptions for 3,855 yards and 26 touchdowns, according to Yahoo Sports.

His strongest statistical season came in 2018, when he recorded a career-high 111 receptions for 1,426 yards and seven touchdowns, according to Sportsnaut. He also earned Pro Bowl recognition that year before moving on to other teams during his NFL career.

After leaving Pittsburgh following the 2021 season, Smith-Schuster joined the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year contract worth up to $10.75 million. He recorded 933 receiving yards during the 2022 season and helped Kansas City win Super Bowl LVII, according to Yahoo Sports.

Smith-Schuster signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the New England Patriots in 2023. However, injuries limited his production, and he finished that season with 29 receptions for 260 yards and one touchdown in 11 games before the Patriots moved on after one year, according to Yahoo Sports.

He subsequently returned to Kansas City for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Yahoo Sports reported that he caught 18 passes for 231 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games in 2024, followed by 33 receptions for 345 yards and one touchdown in 2025.

Smith-Schuster signed with the Giants in June 2026, reuniting with former offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, according to Yahoo Sports. However, knee problems during the summer affected his chances of making New York's 53-man roster, and the team released him in August.

The Vikings' evaluation follows an unbeaten start to the 2026 season, with The Big Lead reporting that Minnesota had opened the campaign 5-0 before entering its Week 6 bye. The workout gives the team an opportunity to assess Smith-Schuster while considering its available personnel at wide receiver.