Odell Beckham Jr. shows he can contribute in Giants' preseason opener with roster crunch looming
EAST RUTHERFORD – There was no grand announcement when he stepped on the field. With a little over six minutes left in the first half of the Giants' preseason-opening, 13-10 loss to the Vikings, Odell Beckham Jr. simply trotted on with the second team and took his place on the far side.
He couldn’t hide, though. It wasn’t long before those at MetLife Stadium noticed. And once they did, they let the wideout know how they felt about him being back.
“Time to play ball,” said Beckham. “It’s a blessing to be out there.”
The loudest ovation of the afternoon was that for Beckham – who spent the first five years of his career with New York, who drafted him 12th overall in 2014. The now 33-year-old was elite for New York. Injuries then derailed his career as the years dragged on.
He last played a game in December of 2024. He last had 50-plus yards in a game in December of 2023. He last played for the Giants in December of 2018. Now here he is, in August of 2026, trying to make the Giants’ 53-man roster.
Beckham caught two passes for six yards against Minnesota, playing into the fourth quarter. He did get behind the defense on a busted coverage, but backup quarterback Jameis Winston never saw him. Beckham is working mostly with the second team in training camp. The Giants are impressed with his agility, route-running and separation – internally praising him for his ability to get open. The balls just haven’t found their way to him yet.
“I’m glad they see it, but I’ve been doing it,” said Beckham of getting open. “It feels good just to be back out there, but I do feel pretty good.”
While Beckham has shown an ability to contribute, it’s on the Giants to decide whether or not that’s worthy of a roster spot. Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin and rookie Malachi Fields are roster locks. That leaves one, maybe two spots open. Beckham is competing with Braxton Berrios, Isaiah Hodgins, Jalin Hyatt, Dalen Cambre and JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Beckham does play special teams, a role usually required of receivers lower on the depth chart. He’ll have two more games (Miami, Jets) to make his case.
Here are a few more takeaways from the game…
–Jaxson Dart provided quite the scare in the first quarter. Tyrone Tracy missed a block on his second drive, leading to the quarterback getting whalloped by Jay Ward. Dart’s ribs took the brunt of the punishment, but when he tried to stay in, trainers removed him for a concussion check – a common theme from a year ago. Dart’s health, and propensity to head into the blue medical tent, are something the Giants are actively trying to improve. Tracy missed this block, yes, but you’d like to see Dart have a bit better awareness of the situation. He did see Ward coming at all.
-After the game, Dart was not particularly happy with the trip back to the tent, his sixth since last year: "I really respect the rules and the thought behind what the NFL has of keeping players healthy and reviewing things. At the same time, I'm still puzzled by it just feeling like every time that I get hit, I find my way in there."
-Good news, though – Dart returned. And on his very first play back, he showcased the improvisational ability that made him so special a year ago. With his first two reads taken away, Dart escaped back and outside. Fields broke off his route and sprinted toward the end zone. Dart threw a perfect pass, which Fields high-pointed over Ivan Pace.
-Speaking of Fields, his impressive training camp spilled over to the preseason opener. He caught three passes for 34 yards. Aside from the touchdown, he converted a third down on a pass from Winston. The Giants haven’t gotten much this summer from the combination ofSlayton and Darnell Mooney. It might not be long before their reps are handed to Fields.
-Rookie Arvell Reese had two tackles in his debut, including an impressive stick of Shaq Mason at the line. Reese packs a punch. Mason had some steam moving toward the line. That was until he hit Reese. His momentum completely stopped when the back met him head-on.
-The Giants' other first-round pick, guard Sisi Mauigoa, impressed, too. He blocked both Domonique Orange and Jamal Adams on Devin Singletary’s 40-yard, catch-and-run on a screen (to set up Fields’ touchdown). He moves very well.
-Dart converted two third downs to tight end Isaiah Likely. Look for that to continue. He’s Dart’s safety valve, even when Nabers comes back.