A Missed Opportunity in Miami

Odell Beckham Jr. came within inches of delivering the kind of highlight that defined his early career with the New York Giants. Late in the second quarter of Saturday's 26-3 preseason victory over the Miami Dolphins, backup quarterback Jameis Winston lofted a pass toward the back of the end zone, where Beckham had gotten behind cornerback Miles Battle. Beckham leaped, but the ball sailed through his hands and deflected away.

It was a moment that could have silenced doubts about the 33-year-old's comeback. Instead, it became the latest chapter in a preseason marked by quiet numbers and mounting pressure. Beckham finished the game with two catches for 17 yards on four targets, playing 33 snaps. In the Week 1 preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings, he managed just two catches for six yards in 16 snaps.

Beckham's Frustration and Harbaugh's Support

Beckham did not hide his disappointment. "I'm pissed," he said after the Dolphins game, according to multiple reports. "This is the one that keeps me up at night. It's a play I know I can make. I just felt like I was hanging so long. You take it on the chin like a man. The confidence is still there. I know I'll make that play the next time."

Head coach John Harbaugh, however, saw the attempt as a positive. "He was in the air a long time," Harbaugh told the New York Post. "He got up — way up. I know he would say, 'I wake up at 4 in the morning and I'm making that play.' He knows he can make that play, and it's a really tough play to make. Making it would have just been spectacular. I looked at that play as a positive in his favor. I thought it was impressive where he was at, going to get the ball. I think he's capable of still making that play."

Harbaugh has also called Beckham one of his favorite players, but he has stopped short of guaranteeing a roster spot. "I love Odell," he said, "but I don't know how it's going to turn out."

The Roster Battle

Beckham's path to the 53-man roster is complicated. He is listed somewhere between No. 5 and No. 7 on the depth chart, according to NBC Sports, and he is competing with a crowded receiver room that includes Darius Slayton, Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin III, and rookie Malachi Fields. Slayton, Austin, and Fields started against the Dolphins, while Beckham came off the bench.

Dan Duggan of The Athletic has been blunt about Beckham's situation. "This is a good example of why the 'getting open' narrative on Odell is kinda silly," Duggan wrote on X. "All NFL receivers 'get open.' Everyone is just hyper-focused on Odell... It's a production business. He just hasn't." Duggan also noted that Beckham "needs to produce to command a roster spot," pointing out that he has just three catches from starting quarterback Jaxson Dart in 11-on-11 periods during camp.

ESPN's Jordan Raanan reported that unless the Giants trade a wide receiver, there probably won't be room for Beckham on the roster. Beckham's lack of special-teams involvement adds another hurdle, as teams often keep younger players who can contribute in that phase.

A Bargain with Value

Despite the concerns, Beckham's one-year, $1.3 million deal makes him a relatively inexpensive option. He also brings experience and mentoring potential, and he received a warm reception from fans when he entered the Week 1 home game against the Vikings. In the Dolphins game, he showed flashes of his old self, making a 12-yard pickup after a nifty move on cornerback Ethan Bonner and catching a 5-yard pass to set up a field goal as time expired in the first half.

Beckham sat out the 2025 season and is trying to revive his career with the franchise that drafted him in 2014. He has said he wants to "get open and create separation, catch the ball, hopefully score a lot, and have fun." But with the deadline to cut rosters from 90 to 53 looming next week, his future with the Giants remains uncertain.

Perspectives

Odell Beckham Jr.: He takes responsibility for the drop, remains confident in his ability, and insists he will make the play next time.

Coach John Harbaugh: He views the near-catch as a positive sign of Beckham's athleticism and capability, and he has expressed support for the veteran.

Analysts (Dan Duggan, Jordan Raanan): They emphasize that Beckham's production has been insufficient and that his roster spot is far from guaranteed.