Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had a chance to step conclusively away from the roster bubble on Saturday. It didn’t work out.
Beckham dropped a touchdown pass at the back of the end zone during the Giants’ preseason game at Miami.
The good news is that coach John Harbaugh doesn’t seem to be inclined to hold the gaffe against Beckham.
“He was in the air a long time,’’ Harbaugh told the New York Post. “He got up — way up. I know he would say, ‘I wake up at four in the morning and I’m making that play.’ He knows he can make that play, and it’s a really tough play to make.
“Making it would have just been spectacular. I looked at that play as a positive in his favor. I thought it was impressive where he was at, going to get the ball. I think he’s capable of still making that play.’’
Beckham still wishes he had answered the door when opportunity knocked.
“I’m pissed,’’ Beckham said, per the Post. “This is the one that keeps me up at night. It’s a play I know I can make. I just felt like I was hanging so long. You take it on the chin like a man. The confidence is still there. I know I’ll make that play the next time.”
Beckham was on the field for 33 snaps against the Dolphins. Targeted four times, he caught two passes for 17 yards.
In the Week 1 preseason game, Beckham caught two passes for six yards, in 16 snaps.
Looming over the entire situation is next week’s deadline for cutting all rosters from 90 to 53. Beckham is likely somewhere between No. 5 and No. 7 on the depth chart.
Will he make the cut, especially since (unlike young receivers at the bottom of the roster) Beckham likely won’t be playing special teams?
There’s value in having him around. He can mentor other players. And the fans gave him a very warm reception when he entered the Week 1 home game against the Vikings.
Beckham is also a bargain, with a one-year, $1.3 million deal.
If he ends up with a roster spot, the next question is whether Beckham will get meaningful playing time and/or opportunities during games. With Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Malachi Fields destined for big roles in the Giants’ passing game, Beckham may have to leapfrog Calvin Austin III, Darnell Moody, and/or Jalin Hyatt to make a real contribution.
