Miami Gardens, Fla. – Odell Beckham Jr. came close to a highlight-reel moment during the New York Giants' 26-3 preseason victory over the Dolphins on Saturday, but a missed opportunity in the end zone left the veteran receiver frustrated.
Late in the second quarter, with the Giants at the Dolphins' 14-yard line, Jameis Winston threw a pass toward Beckham in the end zone. Beckham got behind cornerback Miles Battle, but the ball sailed through his hands, deflecting away. The receiver, who did not play in the NFL last season, fell to his knees in apparent disappointment.
Beckham, 33, is seeking to make a comeback with the Giants, the team that drafted him in the first round in 2014. "I'm pissed," Beckham said after the game. "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 acknowledged the difficulty of the play but expressed confidence in Beckham's ability. "He was in the air a long time. 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."
Beckham was given several opportunities in the first half. He recorded a 12-yard reception after a move on cornerback Ethan Bonner along the left sideline. Later, after the end zone incompletion, he caught a 5-yard pass that set up a Dominic Zvada field goal as time expired in the first half.
Harbaugh, who previously coached Beckham with the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, emphasized that roster decisions are based on performance. Beckham has remained healthy and on the field, but has yet to definitively separate himself from other receivers on the roster. "I don't care if it was higher, lower, wherever it was at, that's on me," Beckham said. "I feel like if the ball is anywhere near me, if it touches my fingertips, I'm supposed to catch it."