EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Odell Beckham Jr. does not expect to have a roster spot handed to him after returning to the New York Giants.
“I know I’ve got a lot of work to do,” Beckham said Wednesday after his first offseason workout practice with the team since signing Monday. “I came here to earn anything. Everything in my life, nothing was given to me. I came here to earn it, work hard every day and be the best I can for the team.”
Beckham, 33, worked out for the Giants in April, and coach John Harbaugh said the conditions would have to be right for a reunion. Returner/receiver Gunner Olszewski tearing his right Achilles tendon last week precipitated the move to bring in Beckham, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios.
“Try to be aggressive and give ourselves as many opportunities as we possibly can to have the strongest roster we can,” Harbaugh said. “They’ll be competing for roles. They’ll be competing for their opportunity, just like everybody else. Let’s see how it goes.”
There is significant uncertainty at the position, with Malik Nabers working to rehab a torn ACL in his right knee. There is lingering doubt about Nabers being ready for the season opener Sept. 13 against Dallas.
Beckham making the team is no guarantee, but this isn’t just about nostalgia in New York after getting drafted by the Giants in 2014 and spending his first five NFL seasons with them. He has not played a game in the league since Dec. 8, 2024, with Miami after serving a six-game suspension last year for failing a performance-enhancing drug test.
He took time away from football and has been working out since to get in optimum shape.
“I still love this game so much,” Beckham said. “Felt great being out there, being back in the building, on this field. Looking at this stadium, it’s a pretty surreal feeling.”
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL
The Associated Press
