His comeback was initially a feel-good story, but harsh reality is beginning to bite for Odell Beckham Jr. and his chances of making the final roster for the New York Giants. Those chances appear slimmer after Beckham let “a prime opportunity” get away during the 26-3 win over former team the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL preseason on Saturday, August 22.
Now, Beckham finds himself put on notice amid back-to-back quiet showings in exhibition games. He made just two catches for six yards against the Minnesota Vikings last week, and OBJ’s return to Hard Rock Stadium was equally uninspiring, yielding only two receptions for 17 yards.
The numbers form a bleak narrative for Beckham, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. One where the folk hero of the franchise “needs to produce to command a roster spot.”
Beckham isn’t producing. Not when “he has just three catches from (starting quarterback Jaxson) Dart in 11-on-11 periods during camp.” Duggan also pointed out “the Giants are giving Beckham a shot, but it’s on him to force them to keep him on the roster. That hasn’t happened, and time is running out.”
This tough read is part of a brutal narrative about Beckham’s immediate future. The perception would be different had he snagged what should’ve been a touchdown catch against the Dolphins.
Instead, a forgotten Giants’ wideout outplayed Beckham.
Clock is Ticking for Odell Beckham’s Comeback
Beckham is content to ignore the noise, but the warning signs are inescapable for a 33-year-old trying to stay viable as a credible playmaker. Those signs include OBJ getting just seven targets across two preseason games.
GettyBeckham is keen to show he can still work NFL cornerbacks, but he’s been quiet through two preseason games.
It’s not like he’s the go-to receiver the Giants want to wrap in cotton wool and protect from needless injury. Instead, these are the games where Beckham has to stake his claim to head coach John Harbaugh.
Unfortunately, Harbaugh still being unclear on Beckham’s role says something. Probably nothing the former Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns’ receiver wants to hear.
Beckham would’ve made the right kind of noise had he come down with the ball at the back of the end zone in the second quarter. Duggan admitted “It wasn’t an easy play — Beckham had to leap and get his feet down — but it’s exactly the type of catch that was expected to be made in Beckham’s first stint in New York.”
That’s precisely the point about 2026 Beckham. He’s lost the explosive, big-play flair that once defined his game.
Today’s Beckham is a rather pedestrian, short-range target. Like he was on this slant for a modest gain against the Vikings.
Beckham’s days of dominating highlight reels are over. There’ll only be brief moments to excite some nostalgia about what he was at his peak.
One such moment occurred in Miami, when OBJ turned on the style in space to move the sticks during the first half.
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Stringing together moves after short catches is how Beckham proves he still has value for the Giants. The problem is the Giants already have receivers who can do the same, while they’re also not short of field-stretchers after a veteran’s timely reminder of his niche skills.
Forgotten Giants’ Wide Receiver Showed His Worth
Beckham’s low-key return to Miami was in sharp contrast to Darius Slayton reminding the Giants about his worth. The 29-year-old hauled in four of his six targets for 58 yards.
This 28-yard connection with backup quarterback Jameis Winston showed the difference between Beckham and Slayton. The latter simply has the breakaway speed to turn short and intermediate-range catches between the numbers into big plays.
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Slayton’s career average of 15 yards per reception, along with 10.6 yards before catch per reception, prove he also knows how to burn coverage deep. That sudden-strike capability remains invaluable to the Giants, and it means Slayton can play his way out of roster trouble.
It’s a different story for Beckham. He faces competition from Calvin Austin III and a favorite of offensive coordinator Matt Nagy to be the primary underneath target.
Beckham can still win the battle, but the clock is ticking for him to produce some wow numbers and change the narrative.
Odell Beckham Jr. Put On Notice Amid Preseason Flop for Giants