Shurmur won’t say if Odell Beckham Jr. will play vs. Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD, N. J. — New York Giants coach Pat Shurmur isn’t looking at the annual preseason game against the Jets as a final dress rehearsal for the upcoming season.
It’s just another chance for his players to put some good football on tape and enhance their chances of making the 53- man roster.
It also might be a chance for star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to play in a game for the first time since breaking his left ankle in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 8.
“We’ll see,” Shurmur said Saturday in reviewing the Giants’ 30- 17 win over the Lions in Detroit on Friday night.
Shurmur has taken a very cautious approach with Beckham coming off a major injury. He limited his time in the opening weeks of training camp and has not allowed him to play in either of the first two preseason games, which the Giants split.
This past week in practices with the Lions, Beckham took another step, running routes against Detroit defensive backs, including All- Pro cornerback Darius Slay.
The next step would be to play in a preseason game before the opener against Jacksonville on Sept. 9. The braggin’ rights game against the Jets will be played at Met-Life Stadium on Friday with the preseason finale on Aug. 30 against the Patriots.
“I have mentioned this all along, we are going to do our very best to find out who our best 53 guys are,” Shurmur said, adding his thoughts on the third preseason game is that is it one for some players to get their last game experience before the start of the season.
The Giants might be a little short at the halfback position with No. 2 overall draft pick Saquon Barkley still dealing with a strained hamstring and free agent Jalen Simmons uncertain after sustaining a concussion against the Lions.
Shurmur said linebacker Calvin Munson also sustained a concussion in the game and receiver Russell Shepard injured a finger.
The Giants didn’t get back to their headquarters in New Jersey until 5 a. m. Saturday because weather delayed the arrival of their charter jet in Detroit until 2 a. m. EDT.
“How much sleep do you need for a 20- minute press conference,” quipped Shurmur, who earlier in the day reviewed the game film and then went over his roster with his coaching staff.
Shurmur said he was satisfied with most of his team’s play. He said he planned to ask the NFL to clarify a penalty given to linebacker Mark Herzlich for lowering his head to make a hit. He said he disagreed with the call, but added he would not discuss what the league says.
“I don’t think it’s necessary to get fined in the preseason,” he said.
NOTES: Shurmur told placekicker Aldrick Rosas to keep his kickoffs short and high so his special teams could practice coverage. … The quarterbacks have not thrown an interception in the two preseason games.