With receiver Chad Beebe out because of torn ligaments in his ankle, the Vikings reached back into their recent past Tuesday and called on two players to take his place before Sunday's game in Chicago.

The Vikings are bringing back Laquon Treadwell, the 2016 first-round pick who was released at the end of training camp, and Marcus Sherels, the team's career leading punt returner they let walk this spring.

Treadwell, who'd had several workouts but hadn't signed with another team, returns as the Vikings' fourth healthy receiver with Beebe being placed on injured reserve. Sherels, who also had been a free agent, could be returning punts again as soon as Sunday.

And both could stay awhile in their comebacks. Beebe tore ligaments in his ankle while blocking for tight end Irv Smith Jr. during Sunday's 34-14 victory over the Raiders, according to an NFL source, and will be out a minimum of eight weeks. Beebe is not planning to have surgery for now, the source said.

The return of Treadwell — who caught 56 passes for 517 yards in three seasons — gives the Vikings another receiver who knows their playbook. They could also get a boost from their tight ends; second-round pick Smith was their leading receiver Sunday (three catches for 60 yards), and has lined up in the slot on a handful of occasions.

Treadwell's return adds an interesting coda to a run with the Vikings that appeared to be over. The team declined his fifth-year option in the spring, and the 23rd overall pick in the 2016 draft sunk down the team's depth chart in training camp, behind Beebe (a former rookie camp tryout pickup) and Olabisi Johnson (a seventh-round pick this year). Treadwell had left as the only first-round receiver in Vikings history not to post at least 1,000 career yards after starting his career with the team. For the time being, at least, he'll get another chance to add to those totals in Minnesota.

According to an NFL source, the Vikings worked out former Eagles and Bills receiver Jordan Matthews last week, as well as former Bears receiver Tanner Gentry and former Jets receiver Deontay Burnett, before deciding to bring back Treadwell.

The 31-year-old Sherels was available after being released by the New Orleans Saints earlier this month. Coach Mike Zimmer suggested after Sunday's game the Vikings might be looking for a return man, after Beebe muffed a punt for the second consecutive game.

New Orleans signed the Rochester, Minn., native and former Gopher in free agency this spring, but the cornerback/returner reached an injury settlement and was a free agent. Sherels is healthy now, according to a league source, and ready to return to the role he first earned in 2011 as an undrafted free agent. Sherels has 2,447 punt return yards and five touchdowns for the Vikings with only eight fumbles in 231 returns.

The team waived linebacker Devante Downs, a 2018 seventh-round pick, to make room on the 53-man roster.

Staff writer Andrew Krammer contributed to this report.