DON’T COUNT ME OUT!
Odell still hopes to play vs. Cowboys
Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle sprain) warmed up with the Giants on Wednesday, but is still waiting for medical clearance before he can play in the opener Sunday.
His eyes narrowed a bit as he pondered the question for just a moment. O dell Beckham Jr. offered no guarantees, other than his intense desire to be a part of Sunday night’s season opener, an NFC East clash with the Cowboys, on the road, on national television. Will he play? “I wouldn’t count it out,’’ Beckham said Wednesday. “My heart — it’s just not going to make this easy. I can say that it’s a day-to-day thing — really trying to get better. It’s been two weeks. I’m itching. I’m itching, but just patience and trusting.’’
Beckham said this was “a good day’’ for him as he continues to fight back from a sprained ankle that is more than two weeks old — and still not healed. Take this is a sign of progress: He warmed up with his teammates inside the field house, moving gingerly but fairly smoothly as he jogged back and forth. Once the rest of the team separated for “Protect the Duke’’ ball-security drills, Beckham headed straight for the sideline to work with trainers. Off to the side, Beckham did a series of non-impact stretching and movement exercises.
This is the first time Beckham joined his teammates on the field for any activity since hurting his ankle Aug. 21 in Cleveland after leaping to make a catch and getting hit low by cornerback Briean Boddy-Calhoun.
Beckham said he has “done some running and cutting,’’ but he has not been given medical clearance to participate in practice.
This could drag on until 45 minutes before kickoff. Beckham does not look ready to practice Thursday. The Giants have a “recovery day’’ on Friday and then hit the field for practice Saturday before taking off to Dallas. It is conceivable Beckham will have to prove he is ready during Sunday night’s pregame work before he is given the go-ahead.
“We are just going to take it day by day,’’ Ben McAdoo said. “If he is cleared medically to play in the game, we will play him. If not, we won’t. If it is safe for the player to play and he is not going to do further harm to himself physically, then we would think about playing him. But I have never put a player out there who would do further damage to himself physically.’’
McAdoo made it clear Beckham could still play even if does not practice all week, if he shows he is capable of running his routes a few hours before the game.
Being sidelined is not easy for Beckham.
“I mean, it sucks, but it’s just a day-to-day thing,’’ Beckham said. “You try and get better each and every day. I’ve been rehabbing an endless amount of hours and treatment, etc. So, just trying to get it right.’’
Beckham said he knew it was a significant injury the day after it happened, when the soreness kicked in.
“I think we’re on a tremendous path 16 days out,’’ he said.
Teammates are playing it coy, but the feeling inside the Giants’ locker room is that Beckham will play.
“The more I see him, the more I see his smile, I mean, I don’t know, hopefully he is on the field,’’ safety Landon Collins said.
Beckham played in only one preseason game and now has missed practice time, but he is not overly concerned — or concerned at all — that once he returns, there will be any timing issues with Eli Manning.
“I’ve been throwing with Eli since I was a sophomore in high school,’’ Beckham said. “Yeah, I wish I could be practicing. I wish we could have routes and this and that, etc. But, it is what it is at this point. You just have to kind of keep going with it. Whenever they clear you, you can go.’’
Beck ham war med up Wednesday without wearing a brace or even a wrap on his left ankle and said he does not plan to use any special protection if he is able to play — he says he has not taped his ankles since high school.
“I’m itching to get out there,’’ he said. “We have a very good matchup. We have a very good game plan. It’s going to be a very good game. I know on this side — I don’t know what’s going on over there — but I know the Giants are coming with it.’’