Rookie Nat Berhe likely replacement for benched safety Stevie Brown

Nat Berhe may be getting a promotion.

The rookie safety replaced veteran Stevie Brown for the last quarter of Sunday's win over the Texans, and Tom Coughlin gave no indication that he will go back to Brown when the Giants play on Thursday night in Washington.

"We made a position change there and that's all I'm going to say about that," Coughlin said on Monday. "[Brown] is not hurt."

Brown was spun around in coverage against Damaris Johnson on a 44-yard touchdown pass that cut the Giants' lead to 17-10 late in the third quarter Sunday. This a week after Brown missed an interception against the Cardinals, prompting Coughlin to note that he does not look to be back to full speed coming off ACL surgery. Brown missed the entire 2013 season with the injury.

Brown ended up playing 45 of the 65 defensive snaps Sunday after playing all but one of the 135 defensive snaps in the first two games. Berhe, who had played four snaps in the first two games, played 19 Sunday.

Berhe impressed the coaches this summer and earned the nickname "The Missile" because of his willingness to attack ballcarriers. The fifth-round pick from San Diego State was used as a hybrid linebacker in college and already has a fan on the field.

"I've been a big believer in Berhe for a while," linebacker Jameel McClain said. "He's a hitter. I'm a sucker for a hitter."

No Beckham yet

Odell Beckham Jr.'s NFL debut will have to wait at least one more week. Coughlin strongly implied that the first-round pick will not be ready to take the field Thursday. He's been sidelined since the spring with a series of hamstring injuries.

"I think that there's improvement in Odell, as there has been every week," Coughlin said. "I don't believe he's there, but we're trying to be as patient as we can with the idea being that when we get him back, we're going to have him."

Giant steps

Linebacker Jon Beason (foot) could play Thursday. "We're going to see to what extent Jon can be a part of our on-the-field work," Coughlin said. Given a week of rest and having the game on natural grass at FedEx Field will help Beason's chances . . . Cornerback Zack Bowman (quadriceps) was the only addition to the Giants' injury report this week . . . Guard Eric Herman, a seventh-round pick by the Giants a year ago, was signed to the practice squad. He replaces offensive lineman Mark Asper.