New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., the team's first round draft pick this past May, has been sidelined since July 22 with a hamstring injury and has yet to play in a game. Will his debut provide a boost for the Giants offense?
Beckham's potential impact remains a question mark, but his debut performance with New York is an even bigger mystery. On Sunday, CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora tweeted that Beckham would be ready for Thursday Night Football against the Washington Redskins. But NJ.com reported on Monday that the rookie wide receiver did not practice and has not yet received clearance to fully do so with the Giants, which would indicate he won't be ready for Thursday.
However, the rookie was a limited participant in practice on Tuesday, which was good news because he's only seen action in two practices with his teammates since the start of training camp. He hasn't been a full participant in practice since Organized Team Activities (OTAs) in June.
Beckham has been injured for quite a while and most of the reports out of New York have only documented the wide receiver participating in individual drills or coach Tom Coughlin vocalizing his frustration with Beckham's inability to get significant reps and gel with the team. But believe it or not, Beckham has a lot to say about his injury as well as the direction of the Giants offense. After a phenomenal junior year at Louisiana State University in which he hauled in 57 receptions for 1,117 yards and eight touchdowns, Beckham has been looking forward to working with experienced NFL veterans in Eli Manning and Victor Cruz. He'll also be joining former LSU teammate Reuben Randle in the receiving corps.
Beckham is expected to be a weapon in the slot for quarterback Eli Manning when Cruz lines up on the outside, and they expect to use him a number of other ways as well. And now, with wide receiver Jerel Jernigan out for the season because of a Lisfranc injury, it looks as if Beckham can claim a receiver spot outright if he can return (now reports suggest by Week 5) and display knowledge of the offense. He's more than eager to rejoin the team, especially after he caught glimpses Ben McAdoo's offensive system during OTAs in June, which was when he originally suffered his lingering hamstring injury.
"It has potential to be, if not the best, one of the best in the league," said Beckham, when asked about McAdoo's offense. "When you have a receiving corps like we do and a great quarterback along with the backfield and the tight ends and much improvement from the offensive line, I don't see anything but being one of the best in the league this year."
The rookie has expressed his frustration with being sidelined because he was unable to work with the team as they went through the gestating phases of learning the new offensive system. Prior to McAdoo's arrival, the Giants, and most notably Eli Manning, were under offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, whose system relied heavily on the run game and the play-action pass. But Giants management saw it was time to change their philosophy and decided to hire McAdoo, the former quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers, after Gilbride resigned in the offseason. The team drafted Beckham likely because he was a great fit for the quick passes and crisp routes that characterize McAdoo's scheme.
"I want to be out there that bad," said Beckham. "It's hard for me to even focus all the time at practice because I want to be out there running routes instead of sitting here with Coach [Ryan] Roeder going over all the plays. It's just one of those things, like I said, you got to take your time and ease into it slowly," he added, referring to his injury.
It's been particularly frustrating for Beckham because for a majority of his time spent injured there hasn't really been a set timeline or plan that indicated when he might be able to return to action, especially after he aggravated the injury on August 18. He told reporters that it was a "day-to-day thing" and that a set plan would usually be put in place depending on his progress after a given practice; if he suffered a setback the trainers would lessen his workout regimen, or, if he felt better, they would increase his workload and intensity.
But now, that ad hoc treatment for his injury is seemingly in the rearview for the most part. Beckham was on the practice field Tuesday running routes at full speed (during the individual portion of practice) and catching balls from Eli Manning and Ryan Nassib. The Giants will have 11 days between their matchup against the Redskins on Thursday and their Week 5 home game against the Falcons, which should give Beckham enough time to fully participate in a few practices before making his debut with the team. Many are curious as to what Beckham will bring to the table on the big stage, especially since the Giants opted to select him before receivers Brandin Cooks and Kelvin Benjamin, who have already shown they are capable of performing at the professional level.
Beckham acknowledges that and hopes to meet expectations, but at the same time he's concentrating on the task in front of him, which is regaining his health and strength to return to the field.
"I know I've missed a lot of time; not being able to run routes, not being able to get adjusted to the speed, it's all something I've just been seeing and not really getting the feel of. I'm just looking get my body right, and when I get back on the field, be able to make some plays."
The Giants are likely happy to know that, especially since the offense has shown a lot of weaknesses thus far. However, it has also revealed some flashes of greatness. Another playmaker alongside Victor Cruz could really put the offense over the edge if McAdoo's system comes to fruition, but it remains to be seen whether Beckham could be that guy. We may find out as early as Week 5.
