MATES EXPECT ODELL WILL GO
PLAYERS: NO DOUBTS FOR OPENER
Odell Beckham Jr.’s ankle sprain is more severe than the one Sterling Shepard suffered that scared the Giants early in training camp — Shepard was running less than a week after going down in a one-onone drill. Still, the Giants believe if the healing process proceeds normally, Beckham will be ready for the regular-season opener. If he suffers a setback, the Sept. 10 game in Arlington, Texas, could be in jeopardy, though at this point, the Giants plan on having their most lethal offensive weapon against the Cowboys. ESPN reported Beckham might miss the first two weeks of the season, making it a “week-to-week” case. “A week is a long way away, right? I like to take things day-by-day and see how they go, see how he responds to treatment,” head coach Ben McAdoo said Wednesday after practice. While McAdoo would not disclose anything beyond “day-to-day” regarding a time frame, teammates seemed enthused by the prospect of Beckham being available for the opener. Defensive end Olivier Vernon replied, “No, not at all” when asked if he was worried Beckham might miss the Dallas game. “You never want to see a te a mmate go down, especially [in a] preseason game,” Vernon said. “At the end of the day, football, anything can re a l ly happen. I know Odell’s in high spirits right now and we’re going to have him back.”
McAdoo, though, did not exactly provide what could be considered a definitive analysis on the injury.
“He’s got an ankle. He is in there getting treatment,” McAdoo said. “We are just taking it day by day.”
Beckham was injured in Monday’s preseason loss at Cleveland on what some perceived as an unnecessary hit by Browns defensive back Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Beckham’s MRI exam was negative.
“I didn’t learn anything from the MRI. He’s got an ankle. He is in there getting treatment. We are taking it day by day. The medical staff reads the MRIs,” said McAdoo, who seemed more eager to provide his ATM PIN than anything revealing on the wideout. McAdoo was asked if Beckham was in a walking boot.
“He’s in there. He’s got an ankle,” McAdoo said. “He is getting some treatment.” See a pattern yet? While McAdoo was tight-lipped, Beckham’s teammates were more optimistic.
Corner back Do minique Rodgers-Cromartie said seeing Beck ham in the locker room was a decided positive. But complicating the matter is that the No. 2 wide receiver, Brandon Marshall, is battling a shoulder injury and also will miss Saturday’s game against the Jets. Additionally wide receivers Dwayne Harris (upper body) and Tavarres King (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.
“You don’t want to think about that. You’ve got Odell and Marshall that’s out, that’s definitely a big part of our offense, but you don’t want to put your mind on that,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “As long as you see the guys walking around the locker room like there’s not a problem, you’re happy about that. Now if he was someone just lying on the table or something, that’s different.”
And Beck ham was walking around the locker room.
Injury on one side provides opportunity on another. So secondyear wide receiver Roger Lewis Jr. could benefit. Lewis practiced with the starting offense Wednesday and drew praise from McAdoo. After all, he didn’t have an ankle, nor was he in there getting treatment.
“Roger had a great day of practice. Showed up ready to go. Worked hard. Got a lot of reps on the special teams and on offense. Made some nice catches down the field on some post balls and some go balls and on some flies,” McAdoo said. “Had a very productive day. Took advantage of his opportunity.”
Lewis said it’s a matter of working and putting into practice what guys like Beckham and Marshall impart.
“I’m learning from [two of ] the best receivers in the game, Brandon Marshall and Odell Beckham. Every day I go home I’m looking at what they do in practice,” Lewis said. “I hit up Odell. I’m able to go up to Brandon Marshall and ask him, ‘Hey what should I do on this route?’ I’m just learning from those guys and I really appreciate those guys every day. And whenever it’s my number called, I’m ready.”