Odell Beckham Jr. has put himself in a position to potentially make the New York Giants’ roster, which at the time of his signing seemed unlikely. The 33-year-old wide receiver’s return to New York was supposed to be a feel-good reunion, not a legitimate roster battle.

Yet multiple Giants beat reporters have noted Beckham working with the first-team offense over consecutive practices, catching passes in team drills, and flashing the kind of reliability that could earn him a spot on the final 53-man roster.

Beckham Jr. is more than a blast from the past

When Beckham signed, Giants fans fantasized about a resurrection with a player who meant so much to the franchise during the final years of Eli Manning’s career. He produced incredibly memorable moments, and it ended in a disappointing way. A return allowed for a chance at redemption, but the path to making the team was steep. Beckham hadn’t played since 2024, and when he did play that season with the Miami Dolphins, he appeared in nine games and caught only nine passes for 55 yards. The numbers did not inspire confidence.

That’s why the recent momentum has been so striking. This is not a circumstance where Beckham had a couple of nice plays or made one ridiculous circus catch and a narrative was built around it. 

According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan’s practice reports, Beckham has worked with the first-team offense on multiple days, shown consistency, and looked like a version of himself that few expected to see again. For a 33-year-old who looked finished at the beginning of camp, the turnaround is impressive.

Second strong day for Odell Beckham Jr. He had four catches in team drills. Made some tough grabs. He’s taken advantage of the opportunities the past couple days.

It’s all important for Beckham. He’s on the roster bubble.

— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) August 5, 2026

The opportunity exists in part because Malik Nabers still isn’t available. The full timeline for his return to full practice reps remains unclear. Injuries are paving the way for Beckham to show what he’s capable of. So far, he’s taking full advantage of those first-team reps. 

What can the Giants expect from OBJ?

Beckham is not going to be a first-team wide receiver. He’s probably not going to start. His role will likely resemble the backup capacity he filled in Miami. Once Nabers and other injured players return, Beckham slots into a depth role. The difference is that the momentum he has established appears to be enough for him to stick on this roster.

He still faces an uphill battle. JuJu Smith-Schuster remains in the mix, and Braxton Berrios made noise early in camp because of his potential special teams value. Most notably, this could be the indicator that there is no more hope left for Jalin Hyatt. If Hyatt can’t prove reliability or special teams value, Beckham’s veteran presence and familiarity with the system give him the edge. The connection to head coach John Harbaugh, who coached Beckham during his time in Baltimore, only strengthens his case.