Still on their minds
Wing, Giants rally around ‘down’ Odell
He comes in early and leaves early, adhering to the schedule assigned to injured players who are not going to play again this season. Odell Beckham Jr. is now living on Recovery Road, and it is tough for his buddy to see.
“He can’t do a whole lot,’’ said punter Brad Wing, Beckham’s closest friend on the Giants. “He’s in a tough position. To see him like that, not in his element, it’s tough. I know he’ll come back better.’’
Beckham had surgery Oct. 9 to repair his fractured left ankle and is in the nascent stages of a rehabilitation the Giants believe will return him to full health and back into a dominating NFL receiver. His left leg is heavily wrapped and in a protective boot; he gets around with crutches. Wing and Beckham are New Jersey neighbors and Wing says he stops by every day to check on Beckham.
“I see him all the time,’’ Wing told The Post. “He’s good, it’s just, he obviously has down moments. You just pick him up when you can. Let him know we’re thinking of him. I think that’s the hardest thing for guys, I’ve been fortunate enough to where I haven’t had an injury, but I’ve been around guys that have and it’s hard to see them. They just want to be out here and play. The big thing we can do as players is let them know you’re still a part of the team, even though you’re not out there on Sundays.’’
Less than two weeks post-surgery, Beckham has started coming by the Giants facility but does not spend much time there.
“He comes in and gets his treatment, so it’s good to see him around here,’’ Wing said. “Being around the guys is good for anybody who’s injured.’’
The Giants have not forsaken Beckham. Sterling Shepard, the second-year receiver, said he is in contact with Beckham every day.
When healthy, there is no more frenetic Giants player than Beckham, a whirlwind of constant motion. Sitting still is not for him. This injury, though, has forced the 24-year-old to slow down.
“It all flashes before you,’’ Wing said. “People say ‘Oh, it’s just sport,’ but it’s everything, it’s your livelihood. Injuries, that first instance you never know what’s wrong.’’
It was Wing’s idea to take Beckham’s helmet on the trip to Denver, and it sat behind the bench at Sports Authority Field at Mile High as the Giants found their first victory of the season, beating the Broncos 23-10. Beckham will not wear that helmet any time soon.
“He’s got some super powers,’’ Wing said. “The old quote, ‘God made everybody the same,’ I don’t know how true that one is. He never fails to amaze me, so whatever the allocated time is they’ve said, I would say, knowing him, he comes back earlier.’’