Beckham knows he has to prove himself, and that's just fine with him
John Harbaugh has players address the team before meetings every morning. He calls them "wise words." On Wednesday, it was Odell Beckham Jr.'s turn.
His message was simple. Yesterday's touchdown doesn't win you today's game. It sums up how Beckham is approaching this second chance with the Giants.
Beckham had a strong practice on Tuesday with the first team and another solid showing Wednesday. But he didn't want to rest on that because he knows making the roster requires consistent production, not just a few days.
"I was like, ‘I want to have an even better day tomorrow.’ And I feel like the whole team is carrying that mentality," Beckham told reporters Wednesday. "But personally for me, it's just about stacking those days. Just finding ways to build confidence, build confidence from within the team and myself included.
Beckham, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2024, is still popular with Giants fans who've seen him at practice. But fame won't guarantee a roster spot.
It's a new challenge for him, especially someone used to being a No. 1 receiver. But it's why he wanted the opportunity to prove himself that he could compete on his terms. Not by looking back at his past glory but looking ahead to build on each day's work.
"I'm all for competition. I've always been like that," Beckham said. "I feel like I rise to the occasion. And right now, I'm just trying to stay in the bag, you know what I mean? I'm trying to get better each and every day, know exactly what I’ve got to do, get open, catch the ball, score, get back to the game that I truly love, and I'm just grateful for the opportunity."
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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