Beckham Jr., Giants’ Top Pick, Back on Sideline
By BILL PENNINGTONAUG. 19, 2014
The Giants’ first-round draft pick Odell Beckham Jr. has yet to fully participate in a training camp practice because of a hamstring strain. But in recent days, Beckham, a wide receiver, seemed to be recovering, running some plays from scrimmage, and the team had expressed hope that he could play in its next preseason game Friday against the Jets.
On Tuesday, Beckham was again on the sideline and not practicing. The team said that Beckham’s right hamstring was sore and that he would not play Friday after all.
In a statement from the team, Beckham said: “We have progressively built up my workload. I was sore this morning, and I didn’t work today because we didn’t want a setback, and I don’t consider this a setback. I see it as another step in getting back to full strength.”
Late in Monday’s practice, Beckham appeared to take an awkward step after catching a pass and did not return to practice after that play. The Giants, at the time, said Beckham was not injured. Tuesday, the team would not say if Beckham had sustained a setback in his recovery.
“He was sore this morning,” Giants Coach Tom Coughlin said. “I don’t think he hurt himself. They don’t feel like it’s a re-injury, but they’re going to continue to be cautious, if that’s what it takes. They’re saying no setback. That’s where we are on it.
“What contributed to it, I really don’t know.”
The Giants’ regular season opens in less than three weeks. The starting offense has been struggling to adapt to a new offensive system, and Beckham has had little chance to build a rapport with quarterback Eli Manning or practice the intricate communication schemes between the quarterback and the receivers. After ranking 28th in N.F.L. offense last season, the Giants drafted the speedy Beckham to add some explosive playmaking ability to a slumbering attack. Earlier this month, they lost their 2012 first-round draft pick, David Wilson, another fleet playmaker, to a career-ending neck injury.
Assessing Beckham’s readiness, Coughlin said: “He’s been in every meeting. He knows the offense, he knows the terminology. The stamina, the endurance part of it, those kind of things, it’s all going to have to be accomplished.”
AI
