Odell Beckham Jr. Makes Giants 53-Man Roster After 76-Yard Preseason

Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. secured a spot on the New York Giants' initial 53-man roster after recording seven catches for 76 yards this summer.

Odell Beckham Jr. officially secured a spot on the New York Giants' initial 53-man roster this Sunday, following a preseason where he recorded seven catches for 76 yards. The 33-year-old wide receiver returns to the franchise that drafted him 12th overall in 2014 after spending the entire 2025 season out of the NFL. His inclusion on the active roster comes after the team lost wide receiver Calvin Austin III to a season-ending torn ACL last week. Beckham, who signed with New York this past spring, is now positioned to play in the season opener against the Dallas Cowboys on September 13.

Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed the roster move following a summer where Beckham did not miss a single practice session. Harbaugh noted that the former Pro Bowl selection had his best week of camp immediately preceding the final roster cuts. While the coach previously stated that a roster spot was not guaranteed for the veteran out of LSU, he praised Beckham’s ability to consistently get open and improve throughout the spring and summer programs. The receiver's most recent professional action prior to this comeback was with the Miami Dolphins during the 2024 campaign.

Roster Cuts and Draft Pick Outcomes

While Beckham earned his place, the Giants waived four former draft picks, most notably offensive lineman Evan Neal. The former seventh overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft out of Alabama concludes his tenure in New York with 29 games played and 27 starts. Despite receiving what Harbaugh described as a "clean slate," Neal spent the majority of the summer training with the third-team unit. Other notable departures included 2023 third-round wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and 2023 fifth-round running back Eric Gray. The team also moved on from linebacker Darius Muasau, a sixth-round selection from the 2024 class.

In contrast to these departures, the Giants retained all seven members of their 2026 draft class on the initial 53-man roster. This group includes all three players selected in the sixth round of this year's draft. The roster construction reflects a significant shift since Beckham was last with the organization; he was traded to the Cleveland Browns in 2018 following a three-season start that saw him become one of the league's most electric players before injuries and controversies impacted his trajectory.

Beckham’s Performance and Motivation

Beckham’s path back to the Giants roster was solidified during the preseason finale on Friday night. Following that contest, the receiver expressed that making the team would "mean everything" to him, citing his four-year-old son as a primary source of motivation. He shared an anecdote regarding his son telling a friend that people always want photos with his father because he "must be the best." Beckham stated his desire to lead by example and be a good man for his child.

Coach Harbaugh validated Beckham's efforts on Friday night, stating that the receiver had done enough to earn an NFL roster spot and had played well as the camp progressed. The veteran's presence provides a veteran element to a receiving corps that recently lost Austin III to the aforementioned knee injury. As the Giants transition from training camp to regular-season preparation, Beckham’s successful return marks his first time on the New York roster in eight years. The team officially announced the roster composition on Sunday afternoon, finalizing the group that will travel to face Dallas in less than two weeks.