Odell Beckham Jr. Scores Twice in Practice as Giants Face Sunday Cut Deadline

Odell Beckham Jr. caught touchdown passes from Jaxson Dart and Jameis Winston during Wednesday's practice ahead of the Sunday 6 p.m. ET roster deadline.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Odell Beckham Jr. concluded Wednesday’s New York Giants practice by catching a skinny post for a touchdown from backup quarterback Jameis Winston. The scoring play, which occurred just days before the Sunday 6 p.m. ET deadline for 53-man roster cuts, prompted Winston to sprint 120 yards downfield to congratulate the veteran wideout. Earlier in the session, Beckham secured another touchdown during a red zone drill, plucking a pass from starter Jaxson Dart at the pylon despite tight coverage from cornerback Deonte Banks. This sequence followed a missed connection on the previous play where Dart threw to the right corner while Beckham broke toward the pylon.

Beckham enters the preseason finale against the New York Jets this Friday having recorded four catches for 23 yards through the first two exhibition games. During Tuesday’s live team drills, he tallied four additional receptions. These performances follow a Saturday preseason game against the Miami Dolphins where the former Pro Bowler failed to secure a potential touchdown catch in the end zone. Giants head coach John Harbaugh noted that Beckham is currently experiencing his best week of camp, highlighting the numerous plays made during Wednesday’s session.

Roster Vacancy Following Austin Injury

The Giants' wide receiver depth chart shifted significantly on Tuesday when primary slot receiver Calvin Austin III suffered a season-ending noncontact ACL tear in his right knee. This injury leaves a vacancy in the slot that Harbaugh indicated must be filled by the next available player. Currently, Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Darius Slayton, and third-round selection Malachi Fields are considered locks for the final roster. Braxton Berrios is viewed as the most natural fit for Austin’s former role due to his experience as a slot receiver and punt returner, while Mooney has also taken snaps in the slot.

General manager Joe Schoen confirmed on WFAN Sports Radio that Beckham will play in Friday's game to allow for further evaluation. Schoen stated that the receiver has shown enough to prove he can still play at this level. Beckham is currently competing for the fifth wide receiver spot against Dalen Cambre, who offers special teams utility. Other players listed below Beckham on the current depth chart include Isaiah Hodgins and Xavier Gipson, while Jalin Hyatt remains sidelined with a leg injury.

Special Teams and Experience Factors

A primary hurdle for Beckham remains his lack of participation in special teams units this summer. Harbaugh, a former special teams coach, described the third unit as the common denominator for determining the final spots on the 53-man roster. While Beckham brings what teammate Darius Slayton calls a "wow factor" and veteran experience, he has not yet contributed to the coverage or return teams during training camp. Slayton compared the anticipation of Beckham’s one-handed catches to the shooting expectations placed on NBA star Steph Curry.

Beckham signed with the Giants in the spring following a conversation with Harbaugh regarding the necessity of earning a roster spot. The wideout has acknowledged he was guaranteed nothing upon his arrival. As the team prepares for the Friday finale, the coaching staff continues to weigh Beckham's offensive "juice" against the special teams value provided by competitors like Cambre. The final determination on his status must be made before the league-mandated deadline on Sunday evening.