When rumors circled around the New York Giants considering a reunion with Odell Beckham Jr., many brushed them off. After all, communities clamor for signings or trades involving big-name talent all the time.
But here was a former Giants icon who hadn’t played a single snap of football in 2025. It felt like an extreme long shot. Yet, OBJ not only signed a contract on June 4, but also managed to stick around on the roster.
Many other longshots get released, sometimes not long after they get their second opportunity. Not Beckham. In fact, his chances of making the roster are looking up.
Odell Beckham Jr. Still Looks Capable at Giants Training Camp
While Beckham Jr. is a three-time Pro Bowl receiver, there’s no question his peak is in the rearview mirror. He hasn’t had a Pro Bowl season since 2016, hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season since 2019, and is now 33 years old.
But while he may no longer be a star receiver, the Giants didn’t sign him to be their No. 1. That’s what Malik Nabers is for.
Nevertheless, the early impression at Giants training camp has been positive for Beckham.
According to Ryan Dunleavy and Brandon London of The New York Post, Beckham received more opportunities with the first-team offense during Tuesday’s practice than on any other day. While it’s hard to know what type of role he may be looking at, Beckham reportedly continues to “get open.”
London noted that OBJ scored a touchdown in Tuesday’s practice. While they can tell he’s still finding his feet, Dunleavy noted that Beckham still has top-notch footwork while creating separation.
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In response to London saying, “the mitts haven’t left,” Dunleavy said, “Neither has the separation, the footwork. Look, I don’t know how it’s going to hold up on Saturday, the sixth straight day of practice. Right now, he’s still getting open.”
Dunleavy suggested it’s possible the coaching staff wanted to see if Beckham could get more targets while working with the first-team offense, with Jaxson Dart, than he’s been getting with the second-team offense alongside Jameis Winston.
Odell Beckham Jr. took more first team reps today than he has all camp. 👀
Blue Rush Training Camp Report from @BrandonLondonTV & @rydunleavy –> https://t.co/64DZpw5EAY pic.twitter.com/fPG9L1XlDW
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) August 4, 2026
It’s early, but reports have been overwhelmingly positive regarding Beckham so far. What type of role he may be looking at remains to be seen. For now, he’s still just fighting for an opportunity to make the roster.
As long as he’s healthy, Nabers will be the No. 1 receiver; after that, it’s a bit of a crapshoot in New York. Veteran Darius Slayton would likely be the odds-on favorite to be the No. 2 wideout, yet that may not be etched in stone with a new coaching staff on board.
Still, Beckham is competing with a long line of receivers. That includes Calvin Austin III, Darnell Mooney, third-round rookie Malachi Fields, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Braxton Berrios, Isaiah Hodgins, and 2023 third-round pick Jalin Hyatt.
That’s a lot of bodies, and when all is said and done after camp, there will likely be 3-4 roster spots available for someone like Beckham to compete for, but signs suggest he’s off to a great start.
