MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Fans of Odell Beckham Jr. had been anticipating this moment.
Head coach John Harbaugh likely shared that anticipation, seeing it as a chance to turn back the clock with a vintage highlight that would let Beckham’s supporters proclaim, “See, he’s still got it!”
Late in the second quarter of the Giants’ 26-3 preseason win over the Dolphins, fans at Hard Rock Stadium gasped as Jameis Winston scanned the end zone from the Miami 14‑yard line.
Beckham slipped behind cornerback Miles Battle, and Winston delivered the ball precisely where it needed to go.
The play seemed destined to succeed.
Beckham leapt into the air at the back of the end zone, with a touchdown appearing imminent—a moment that could have revived memories of his prime.
Unfortunately, it did not come to pass.
The ball slipped between his hands and deflected away, a catch that would have been routine for him during his Giants heyday.
Visibly frustrated, Beckham dropped to his knees and arched backward, his helmet nearly grazing the turf.
It was a difficult moment for the 33‑year‑old, who sat out the 2023 NFL season and is seeking a comeback with the team that drafted him in the first round in 2014.
“He was in the air a long time,” Harbaugh told The Post. “He got up—way up. I know he’d say, ‘I wake up at 4 a.m. and I’m making that play.’ He knows he can make that play, and it’s a really tough one to execute.”
“Making it would have been spectacular. I viewed the play as a positive for him; it was impressive to see him go after the ball. I believe he’s still capable of making that play.”
Beckham shares that sentiment.
“I’m pissed,” he said. “This is the play that keeps me up at night. I know I can make it; I just felt like I was hanging too long. You take it on the chin like a man. My confidence remains, and I know I’ll make that play next time.”
Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, and rookie Malachi Fields started at wide receiver, but Beckham received plenty of first‑half opportunities. He executed a nifty move on cornerback Ethan Bonner along the left sideline, turning a short gain after the catch into a 12‑yard pickup. After failing to secure the ball in the end zone, he hauled in a 5‑yard reception that set up a Dominic Zvada field goal as time expired in the first half.
Harbaugh has called Beckham one of his favorite players—they were together in 2023 with the Ravens—but personal feelings will not determine roster spots. Beckham has remained healthy and on the field, a key prerequisite, yet he has not yet produced a play that distinguishes him from the other wide receivers on the roster.
“I don’t care if it was higher, lower, or wherever it was—that’s on me,” Beckham said. “I feel like if the ball is anywhere near me, if it touches my fingertips, I’m supposed to catch it.”
He came close—almost.