Giants’ John Harbaugh Explains What Went Wrong With Odell Beckham Jr.
Ahead of Week 4 action against the Arizona Cardinals, the New York Giants released former star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
The former Pro Bowler struggled to make a significant impact in his brief tenure with the Giants, as he played only 19 snaps without recording a reception through the first three games of the season.
Beckham’s roster spot became a topic of discussion as the Giants needed to decide on wide receiver Braxton Berrios this season. New York chose to elevate him from the practice squad and make him the team’s punt returner.
Although the 33-year-old’s return to the Giants came with much excitement, he never truly got his footing within the offensive scheme, playing a significantly diminished role. In Sunday’s 12-7 win over the Tennessee Titans, he took the field for six snaps, and the lone target he had was nearly intercepted.
“I had a great conversation with Odell, and it’s tough,” head coach John Harbaugh said via SNY. “But we just weren’t getting enough, you know? It just wasn’t working for us. And like I told him, I wanted to be able to get more. I wanted him to be able to do more, I wanted to get him on the field more.
“Whatever reason, we weren’t able to do it. Put it on us. We weren’t able to get it done. But at this point in time, that’s kind of where we were and we needed to move on.”
The move also signifies that the Giants are confident in their wide receiver room, with Malik Nabers leading the charge. There simply wasn’t a definitive role for Beckham, making his release unsurprising.
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Meanwhile, Beckham enters the free agent market with the opportunity to latch onto another team in hopes of continuing his NFL career. He has played for the Giants, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, and Miami Dolphins, where he registered 575 receptions for 7,987 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns.
