Beckham’s Struggles Continue as Giants Prepare for Titans
There has been quite a bit of focus on Odell Beckham Jr. as he tried to make the Giants’ 53-man roster this spring and summer. However, through the first two games, his performance hasn’t made much of an impact.
Could this change when the Giants host the Titans at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, especially with the forecast predicting rain?
“I think Sunday would be ideal,” Giants head coach John Harbaugh remarked. “I’m all for it. In my mind, it would be the perfect opportunity. So, I’m hoping it happens this Sunday.”
But for Beckham to make a difference, he needs to see more playing time. In the Giants’ season opener against the Cowboys, he only participated in 11 of 69 offensive snaps. In the following week against the Rams, he saw action on just three out of 58 snaps. To put it mildly, that’s just 14 snaps out of 127 total — not exactly enough for a 33-year-old, especially one who sat out all of the previous season, to leave a mark. So far, he hasn’t been targeted for a single pass.
The rookie Malachi Fields leads the receiving corps with 97 offensive snaps, followed by Darnell Mooney with 81 and Malik Nabers at 79. Nabers, who is recovering from ACL surgery, had snap limitations in the first week and missed some plays last week due to a shoulder dislocation, but he has practiced fully this week, which should allow his workload to increase.
With Fields, Mooney, and Nabers clearly ahead of Beckham in the hierarchy, his chances for significant contributions seem limited.
“We’re looking to gradually integrate him into our offensive strategies,” said offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. “It’s not that he’s just a backup. There are specific game plans where he’s included. We simply didn’t utilize those plays yet. And he knows he might have to step in if someone gets injured.”
On the defensive side, the Giants anticipated that their edge rushers—Brian Burns, Abdul Carter, and occasionally Kayvon Thibodeaux—would be targeted, receiving extra blocking from running backs and tight ends. Shockingly, the entire defense has only recorded one sack in the first two games, attributed to Carter against Matthew Stafford. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson acknowledged the need for a fresh approach.
“We need to improve our chip game plan and not rely solely on straight rushing,” Wilson explained. “There are various strategies to pressure the quarterback, and we have some ideas that we hope to implement this week.”
As for injuries, Brian Burns (ankle), cornerback Deonte Banks (calf), and safety Tyler Nubin (calf) are all listed as questionable. Burns has been a reliable presence, having started all 36 games since joining the Giants in 2024.
