New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. has received a stern warning before the team's first preseason game.
When Odell Beckham Jr. signed with the New York Giants in June, he knew he was going to have to fight for a roster spot.
Gone are the days when Beckham was one of the NFL's most explosive weapons during his first stint with the Giants. He isn't that guy anymore. This is a wide receiver who didn't play at all last season and was last seen logging nine catches in nine games for the Miami Dolphins in 2024 before getting cut.
Considering Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III and Malachi Fields all seem to be mortal locks to make New York's 53-man roster, Beckham is very much on the bubble, and he may have to show out during the Giants' first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings this Saturday to have a chance.
In fact, Dan Duggan of The Athletic has put Beckham on notice heading into the contest, placing him among a short list of Giants players with the most to gain — and lose — in New York's opening exhibition matchup.
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images."Beckham doesn’t look washed up, but he’s not making plays in training camp, either," Duggan wrote. "Perhaps Beckham will raise his play when the lights come on in the preseason games. Beckham doesn’t play special teams, so he needs to show enough value as a receiver to earn a spot on the 53-man roster. Making some plays Saturday could help build momentum toward that objective."
Remember: the Giants are without special-teams ace Gunner Olszewski for the entire 2026 campaign, as he tore his Achilles during the early stages of offseason workouts. Had that not occurred, Beckham might not even be here.
It also doesn't help Beckham's case that Nabers has made obvious progress in his recovery from a torn ACL and is trending toward playing in Week 1. Nor does it help Beckham that Fields has looked tremendous in training camp.
Beckham appeared to be a depth addition in the event that Nabers was not fully ready to go, and because Fields is a third-round rookie, there were serious questions as to how prepared he would be for legitimate playing time.
The fact that Beckham has not entirely wowed anyone with his camp performance has only made things more difficult for the 33-year-old.
It should be noted that Beckham has played well this summer, but how much can anyone really expect from an aging veteran who didn't play a single snap in 2025?
John Harbaugh has a history with Beckham dating back to their Baltimore Ravens days, so that should help Beckham's case. But will that be enough to grant him a spot on the roster once cutdown day arrives? It remains to be seen.
