Odell Beckham Jr. burned past the secondary and deja vu set in as quarterback Jameis Winston heaved the ball 40 yards to his wide-open receiver streaking past the closest defender.
Then, Beckham dove full extension, and the ball bounced off his hands and into the turf.
Once again, Beckham came within a fingertip of recording his signature moment when the Giants outlasted the Jets for a 23-6 win in a game most starters did not play in Friday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
It begs the question: Where does the once-electrifying player stand with the NFL’s roster cutdown looming Sunday evening?
Giants coach John Harbaugh did not want to disclose roster cuts at the podium after the game but said “Beckham has done enough to make an NFL roster for sure. He’s played well and got better as camp has gone along. He deserves credit for that.”
The decision comes after slot receiver Calvin Austin suffered a non-contact knee injury in training camp Tuesday. The injury was later revealed to be a torn ACL. With Austin out of the mix, Beckham’s path to a roster spot seems more likely but not guaranteed.
If the Giants keep six receivers, the combination would likely include: Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, rookie Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, Braxton Berrios and Beckham.
During practices in June, Beckham’s message was clear: He was there to prove his worth.
“It’s a pretty surreal feeling,” Beckham said of returning to the Giants in June. “I know I’ve got a lot of work to do. I came here to earn it.”
Has he done enough?
“It’s in God’s hands,” Beckham said. “I’m simply focused on having the opportunity. It means a lot to me. I tried and gave it my best.”
Beckham, who signed a bare-minimum one-year deal to return to the Giants this offseason, parlayed what coach John Harbaugh called his best week of training camp with his performance Friday night.
Earlier in the game, Beckham fell on a route that was intercepted by Jets linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball. He also hauled in a 23-yard gain across the middle to set up the Giants’ first touchdown, a six-yard run by Tyrone Tracy.
New York Giants Odell Beckham Jr. (3) makes a catch for a first down as New York Jets Jarius Monroe (25) defends during the first half of preseason NFL football, Friday Aug. 28, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.Andrew Mills | NJ.comBeckham was the most-targeted receiver in the first half and finished with three receptions for 53 yards. He was targeted six times and drew a pass interference in the second quarter.
He did not return for the second half as the Giants built on a 10-6 lead with 13 unanswered points.
Last week in Miami, Beckham dropped a pass in the back of the end zone for what also could have been a signature moment. He has flashed some sizzle in practices, including his signature one-handed grabs.
It’s been a constant reminder of Beckham’s best and worst moments with the Giants from 2014-2018.
Beckham missed all of last season, partly due to a six-game suspension (performance-enhancing drugs). He also missed all of 2022, due to a torn ACL suffered while winning the Super Bowl with the Rams. In 2023 and 2024, Beckham performed modestly for Baltimore and Miami. Harbaugh led the Ravens then.
Despite all that — and the fact that he’s 33 years old — Beckham knows he may be up against the odds.
He said making the team “would mean everything to me”.
If he makes the roster, Beckham will be with the Giants for their opener against the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 13 when they open their season on Sunday Night Football in East Rutherford.
“It feels great to be back in that stadium,” Beckham said. “Good times, hard times, things that made me a man. I’m pleased with what I did, but I’m always looking for more.”
NJ.com’s Darryl Slater contributed to this report.
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