Odell Beckham Jr. Almost Didn’t Play, Still Provides Spark For New York Giants

Odell Beckham Jr. battled his hip pointer against the Los Angeles Rams but still provided the biggest spark of the game offensively for the New York Giants.

Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a hip pointer against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6. He was forced from the game for a couple of plays, but still delivered a career-best performance. He was unsure that performance would happen, as the pain was excruciating during the game. The pain didn’t subside much during the week leading up to the game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Beckham Jr. didn’t practice much leading up to the game in London. He got in very few practice reps during the week and was in pain again Saturday.

"“Yeah, there was a seed of doubt,” Beckham said. “But at the same time, you’re going to do whatever you’re going to need to do to be out there with your team. There’s no better feeling than that. There’s no better feeling than going home on the plane and we’re all going to be laughing, smiling.”"

He didn’t even participate in the Giants’ early portion of warmups prior to the game Sunday. He spent most of the time chatting with general manager Jerry Reese and head coach Ben McAdoo. They were trying to figure out if Beckham Jr. could even play and devising a plan for him to get through the game.

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"“We kind of just came up with a plan,” Beckham said. “We said, well, kind of get in where you fit in. Wherever you can get in, if you need to come out, let us know. But they did give me the opportunity to play, which I’m thankful for. Like I said, we came out with the ‘W.’”"

While the defense was the biggest reason for the victory against the Rams, Beckham Jr. still provided a spark. Despite not being 100 percent, the Giants turned to Beckham Jr. when they needed a play offensively.

The Giants offense was putrid all game. They couldn’t get anything going on the ground or through the air, partly because of Beckham Jr. being restricted. But, Beckham Jr. provided the biggest play of the game for the Giants offense in the fourth quarter.

Following Landon Collins’ second interception of the game, the Giants offense looked like they were going to stall on the fringe of field goal range. On third-and-three from the Rams’ 28, Eli Manning found Beckham Jr. on the sidelines for a leaping 22-yard reception between E.J. Gaines and Maurice Alexander.

It set the Giants up for their only offensive touchdown in the game, and the go-ahead score. Beckham Jr. knew that he wasn’t himself, saying, “It didn’t feel like I was doing everything. It didn’t feel like I was running as fast. I didn’t feel like I was doing everything, you know, normally, but it was … we did enough. We made plays when we needed to make plays.”

But the Giants knew that he would be there when they needed him most.

"“I think it’s more about character, just knowing he wants to be out there,” quarterback Eli Manning said. “He’s going to give it his all and played injured and do whatever he’s got to do to be there for his teammates, for his game and go out there and play well.”"

It was a gutsy performance from Beckham Jr. as he knew the Giants needed a victory, and for that to happen he would have to be on the field. He is by far the best player on the offense and he is useful out there even if it is as a decoy.

Next: New York Giants Defense Steps Up vs Los Angeles Rams

Now he will have the bye week to heal up and come back healthy when the Giants take the field next. It will be in another big game, as the Giants will be hosting the Philadelphia Eagles November 6th; the same Eagles that just upset the previously undefeated Minnesota Vikings and have hot shot rookie Carson Wentz under center.