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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Odell Beckham Jr.’s final play of practice Wednesday was a skinny post for a touchdown from New York Giants backup quarterback Jameis Winston. The contested catch concluded another strong day for the star wide receiver — just in the nick of time.
Final cuts are Sunday and the talk of camp for weeks has been whether Beckham would make the team's 53-man roster. He has four catches for 23 yards in the first two preseason games and is expected to play in Friday's preseason finale against the New York Jets.
"I think Odell's had a good camp," coach John Harbaugh said. "I would say his best week of camp has come this week. He's looked good and made numerous plays. Just like you saw. Even [Wednesday he] made numerous plays. So he's doing that."
Beckham also caught a touchdown pass from starting quarterback Jaxson Dart earlier in the practice during a red-zone drill. It came at the end of a nifty two-play sequence in which the two weren’t on the same page on their first attempt to the right corner of the end zone. Dart seemed to think Beckham was going up the field while the receiver dashed toward the pylon.
On the very next play, Dart found Beckham at the pylon for the score. He threaded the ball into a tight window, where his new receiver plucked the ball with his hands before cornerback Deonte Banks had a chance.
"I think the kid can still play," general manager Joe Schoen said earlier in the day on WFAN. "He's going to play on Friday and we're going to continue to evaluate those guys. But he has shown enough that he can still play."
It's currently a numbers game for the Giants at wide receiver. Beckham seems to have been aided by the unfortunate season-ending injury to Calvin Austin III on Tuesday.
Austin suffered a non-contact ACL tear in his right knee. Somebody has to fill his spot as the primary slot receiver.
"It just means that the next guy steps up and fills that role," Harbaugh said. "We have to readjust and those roles have to be filled, those jobs have to be done. And the next person will do that."
It leaves New York with Malik Nabers, third-round pick Malachi Fields and veterans Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton seemingly as locks for the final 53-man roster. Braxton Berrios most naturally fits into the spot vacated by Austin as a slot receiver and punt returner. Mooney also has worked in the slot.
Beckham now seems to be the frontrunner to be the fifth wide receiver based on usage throughout training camp. His most serious competition appears to be Dalen Cambre, who brings special teams value. Isaiah Hodgins and Xavier Gibson are other options on the Giants’ roster who appear to be below Beckham on the depth chart. Jalin Hyatt has been sidelined with a leg injury.
Final cuts are due by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Beckham spoke when he was signed about needing to earn his spot on the roster. It was a significant part of the conversation with Harbaugh before he was added in the spring. The former Pro Bowl receiver wasn't guaranteed anything.
Beckham seems to be ascending just in time. He had four catches in live team drills on Tuesday. His final play on Wednesday, the long touchdown grab, had his offensive teammates jumping up and down in celebration. Winston sprinted to the end zone to congratulate Beckham, who flexed and let out a celebratory scream that was audible from more than 120 yards away.
It's what his Giants teammates expect — not having the ball slip through his hands in the end zone as it did during a preseason game on Saturday in Miami.
"I think he was such an exciting player throughout his career that I feel like it's almost like Steph Curry," Slayton said. "Every time you shoot, he thinks he's going to make it. Every time he sticks one hand out, you expect it to just stick to him even though it's not reality. But he has that type of shock and awe. I guess, wow factor, so to speak. But I think he brings a lot of experience. He still has juice, too. I think he's shown that. He can still play for sure."
The Giants seem to think so as well, which should go a long way in determining whether Beckham lands on the final roster. The only thing that seems to be working against him at the moment is his lack of special teams value. He hasn't been part of any special teams units this summer.
Harbaugh is a former special teams coach who puts extra emphasis on the game's third unit. He said special teams is really the common denominator when determining the last spots on the roster.
"I think it's everybody's difference maker, generally," he said.
