The Giants offense was completely outmatched in Week 1 against the Dallas Cowboys, but there’s reason for New York to be optimistic heading into Week 2. Odell Beckham Jr. will be back on the field on Monday night against the Lions, the Giants announced.
Odell Beckham Jr. will play against the Lions on ‘Monday Night Football’
This is great news for the Giants.
Jeanna Kelley has been covering the Falcons for The Falcoholic since 2011 and the NFL for SB Nation since 2015.
Beckham looked ready to go during pregame warmups, but before team confirmed his status for the Monday night matchup against the Detroit Lions, the receiver first told ESPN’s Josina Anderson that he is ready to go.
Less than 20 minutes later, he was ruled active by the Giants.
Some fans were up in arms last week when reports emerged about Beckham having a dance battle with Russell Westbrook despite Beckham’s injured ankle. But Beckham increased his practice workload with the Giants on Thursday, and he looked ready to hit the field.
After practice, Beckham said this injury usually takes six to eight weeks to heal, but he’s ahead of schedule.
”Best I’ve felt yet,” Beckham said via NFL Network’s Kim Jones. “Going in the right direction.”
Why was Beckham out? He was injured during the Giants’ second preseason game, and he’s lucky it wasn’t worse. Beckham sprained his ankle after taking an ugly helmet to the knee.
The injury sparked a debate about playing stars in the preseason and weighing the risk of injury against the benefit of game action before the regular season gets underway
What does this mean for the Giants? Just the threat of having Beckham, and his tendency toward explosive plays, on the field should be a boost for a Giants offense that needs one.
New York’s passing game was stagnant without Beckham on the field in Week 1, and the Cowboys managed to hold the Giants to just one field goal. Beckham’s return is great news for an offense that looked completely inept without him.
And Beckham has a history of thriving in primetime. Since 2014, Beckham ranks third in the NFL in primetime games with 1,221 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, according to Evan Kaplan, a senior research for Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown.
So the Giants should win, then? It’s not that simple. New York’s offensive line was atrocious in Week 1 against the Cowboys. If they can’t give Manning time to throw, it may not help much that Beckham is on the field.
Still, having Beckham back should draw coverage and make it easier for the rest of New York’s receivers to get open. Beckham’s return gives the Giants a better chance of beating the Lions on Monday.
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