Odell Beckham Jr. may have just locked up a roster spot for the New York Giants.
When Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the New York Giants back in June, he knew he would be facing an uphill battle to make the roster.
And up until Tuesday, Beckham appeared to be on the outside looking in with cutdown day just around the corner.
But during practice on Tuesday, fellow receiver Calvin Austin III, who signed a one-year deal with the Giants in free agency, suffered a torn ACL, knocking him out for the season.
It was a crushing blow for a New York squad that was surely planning on using Austin as its primary slot receiver this season, and he appeared to be developing a strong rapport with Jaxson Dart in training camp.
Austin's injury also opened the door for Beckham, who was almost surely the top receiver slated to miss the 53-man squad.
Now, the Giants only have four locks at the position: Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields and Darius Slayton. Braxton Berrios appears to be headed toward making the team as well due to his special teams prowess, which leave one slot remaining.
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images.Enter Beckham, who has had a solid — but unspectacular — summer.
The 33-year-old still looks pretty spry. Is he the same receiver who made three Pro Bowls during his first stint with the Giants? No, and that was made clear when he dropped what would have been a touchdown pass against the Miami Dolphins last Saturday.
But remnants of the twitchy athleticism that made Beckham such a nightmare to defend a decade ago are still there, and they've been present in camp.
Surely, Beckham can beat out names like Jalin Hyatt, Dalen Cambre and Isaiah Hodgins for a roster spot, and unless New York makes any other moves between now and Aug. 30 (cutdown day), the former first-round pick will probably qualify.
Beckham did not play in the NFL at all last season and was last seen playing in nine games for the Dolphins in 2024 before getting released that December.
Everyone knows the LSU product is barely even a mere shell of the player he once was, but any contributions he can make this season will be gravy.
With Austin sidelined, Mooney will probably move into the slot role. Nabers and Fields will likely start on the outside, leaving Slayton and Beckham to fight for extra targets. Beckham is capable of playing in the slot, so maybe he can get some reps there, as well.
It's looking more and more like we will, in fact, witness a second act of Beckham in the Big Apple this fall. Hopefully, it ends better than the first.
