New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh explained why Odell Beckham Jr. was released.
The New York Giants released WR Odell Beckham Jr. after just three games.
Beckham Jr. had zero catches and only 19 snaps.
While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Giants head coach John Harbaugh explained why Beckham Jr. was released.
"Had a great conversation with Odell and it's tough," Harbaugh said. "But we just weren't getting enough. It just wasn't working for us. And like I told him, I wanted to be able to get more. I wanted him to be able to do more. I wanted to get him on the field more.
"Whatever reason, we weren't able to do it. Put it on us. We weren't able to get it done. At this point in time, that's kind of where we were and we needed to move on."
Beckham Jr. played in nine games with the Miami Dolphins in the 2024 season. He caught nine passes for 55 yards and didn't score a touchdown.
The 33-year-old Beckham Jr. began his NFL career with the Giants in 2014. He made three consecutive Pro Bowls with New York from 2014 to 2016 and won the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
However, Beckham Jr. became too big a distraction with the Giants franchise due to his antics and the LSU product was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2019.
OBJ finishes his New York stint with 5,476 receiving yards, 390 catches and 44 receiving touchdowns.
Beckham Jr. appeared in 29 games with the Browns before being waived in November 2021. The three-time Pro Bowler signed with the Los Angeles Rams and helped the team win the Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Unfortunately for Beckham Jr., he tore his ACL (for the second time) in the Super Bowl and missed the entire 2022 season. The veteran signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023 to play with QB Lamar Jackson. OBJ had 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns with the Ravens.
A New Orleans native, Beckham Jr. has 575 catches, 7,987 receiving yards and 59 receiving touchdowns in the NFL. He was on a Hall of Fame path with the Giants before injuries and trades derailed his career.
"I hope he lands somewhere. I mean, he's a great friend," Harbaugh said. "I love the guy and I hope he lands somewhere and gets a shot. I think he's determined to, and it'd probably be a better situation for him. It just wasn't working here. And that's really all that needs to be said."
Not only is OBJ gone, but starting QB Jaxson Dart is also done for the season. He underwent surgery last Friday to repair the meniscus and MCL in his left knee.
The Giants (2-1) are moving forward with Jameis Winston as the starter. They just traded for J.J. McCarthy as a contingency earlier this week.
Dart finished his rookie season with 2,272 passing yards, 15 passing touchdowns, five interceptions, 487 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. He completed 63.7% of his passes and went 4-8 as a starter after taking over for Russell Wilson.
This season, Dart had 250 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and 54 rushing yards before getting hurt in Week 2 against the Rams.
