EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Tuesday announced the signing of linebacker Abraham Beauplan to their practice squad.
Beauplan joined Minnesota earlier in the 2023 offseason as an undrafted free agent out of Marshall.
He recorded seven tackles, including one for a loss, while appearing in Minnesota’s first two preseason games. Beauplan played 17 defensive and 10 special teams snaps at Seattle and 33 and 23, respectively, against Tennessee.
The Florida native played three seasons of college football at Marshall, recording 231 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, three passes defensed and five forced fumbles.
Beauplan was waived in August with an injury designation.
READ MORE
The Vikings have endured a lot in their 2023 season.
But despite numerous injuries throughout its roster, multiple quarterback changes and trouble with turnovers, Minnesota still has an opportunity to make the playoffs for a second consecutive season.
Although the Vikings (7-9) have just a 3-percent chance of getting to the postseason after a 33-10 loss to Green Bay on Sunday Night Football, Minnesota can make it under the following scenario:
The Vikings must defeat Detroit in Week 18, plus get an Arizona win against Seattle and a Chicago win at Green Bay. If all three of those outcomes align, Minnesota also needs either an Atlanta win at New Orleans OR a Carolina win against Tampa Bay.
If the Vikings make the playoffs, they would join some rare company. Minnesota would become just the seventh team in NFL history to qualify for the postseason with a losing record. The other six teams are:
1982 Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions (both teams had 4-5 records during a season that featured a 57-day players’ strike and an expanded playoff field to 16 teams)
2010 Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
2014 Carolina Panthers (7-8-1)
2020 Washington Football Team (7-9)
2022 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
Of those six teams, four had a losing record and a negative point differential, but still qualified for the playoffs: Cleveland (-42), Seattle (-97), Carolina (-35) and Tampa Bay (-45).
Last season, Minnesota became the first team in NFL history to win at least 13 games with a negative point differential (-3). Since 1966, 53 teams have made the playoffs despite owning a negative point differential, including six Vikings teams (1978, 1982, 1993, 1996, 1997 and 2022).
Four other teams besides the Vikings (-8 this season) are fighting for a playoff spot while having a negative point differential, including Pittsburgh (-27), Indianapolis (-15), Atlanta (-21) and Seattle (-39).
Minnesota’s loss to Green Bay dropped the Vikings in this week’s Power Rankings. Here’s a look at where the Vikings rank heading into Week 18:
