Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t light up the box score in his first preseason game back with the Giants, but he absolutely made his point.
Against Minnesota on Saturday, Beckham caught two of his three targets for six yards in the Giants’ 13-10 loss. Those numbers won’t jump off the page, and they weren’t supposed to. What mattered was how he looked doing it: comfortable, in the right spots on short routes, and never trying to manufacture a preseason moment just because the calendar says August.
That kind of showing matters in a receiver room that already has a lot of bodies and not nearly as many jobs. The Giants have Darius Slayton listed first on their depth chart, with Darnell Mooney and Jalin Hyatt next.
Beckham is grouped with Dalen Cambre, while JuJu Smith-Schuster and Xavier Gipson are behind them. With only so many spots available, every snap counts.
Nobody should hand Beckham a roster spot after a two-catch debut. But it would be a mistake to dismiss what he put on tape, either. He moved well enough to play, looked like he knew exactly where he was supposed to be and gave the quarterback a dependable target.
There are more chances ahead for Beckham to make his case, and he’ll need them. Several younger wideouts are still fighting for their own places on the roster, too. But this first preseason outing gave the Giants a legitimate reason to keep him in the mix instead of treating him like a familiar name from another time.
He’s off to a solid start. Now he has to keep stacking good days.
In Other News...
Giants Move On From Veteran Starter As O-Line Youth Push Continues
The Giants youth movement along the offensive line has now sent another veteran out the door, with Greg Van Roten landing a one-year deal with the Patriots. Van Roten, 36, had been a starter in New York and has spent time with multiple NFL teams, making him a familiar kind of stopgap addition for a club looking for experienced help.
For the Giants, the move fits a broader push to get younger up front and keep building around players who can grow together. For Van Roten, it means another chance to carve out a role, and New England appears to see him as a versatile piece who can help at both guard and center while adding depth to a group that always seems to need it. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Backfield Just Got More Crowded For A Veteran Runner
The Giants have added another name to an already busy backfield, bringing in veteran running back Najee Harris to give the offense more depth at a position that already features Cam Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Devin Singletary and Eric Gray. Harris arrives with plenty of NFL experience and a Pro Bowl nod from his time with the Steelers, giving New York another proven option as it sorts out how the carries will be distributed.
For a team looking to sort through a crowded running back room, the move adds both depth and a little more intrigue. Harris gives the Giants a different body type and rsum to mix into the rotation, and it also leaves the backfield picture looking a bit less settled than it was before the signing. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Receiver Battle
JuJu Smith-Schusters brief run with the Giants ended just as quickly as it began, a sign that the teams receiver competition is still very much in flux. Signed on June 1, Smith-Schuster never made much of an imprint during offseason work and was inactive in a recent game, while Braxton Berrios and Odell Beckham Jr. remain in the mix and are expected to be available for the next one.
The move also comes with a notable roster wrinkle, since the Giants filled the spot by adding running back Najee Harris. Even with Berrios and Beckham still on hand, the decision to move on from Smith-Schuster suggests the Giants are continuing to sort out which pass-catchers fit the plan best as they head into the upcoming game. [Read more 🡒]