John Harbaugh Shares Honest Take on Odell Beckham Jr. After First Preseason Game

New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh gave his thoughts on wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. after the team's first preseason game. The Giants lost to the Minnesota Vikings 13–10. Beckham Jr. played a short amount of time but made an impression on his new coach. Harbaugh said he was pleased with what he saw from the veteran receiver.

During the game, Beckham Jr. caught two of three passes for six yards. Both catches came from backup quarterback Jameis Winston. Young quarterback Jaxson Dart also played in the game. Even though the numbers were small, Harbaugh felt good about what Beckham Jr. showed on the field.

Harbaugh spoke honestly with reporters after the game. 'I thought he looked pretty good. Made some catches. Did some things he could've done better. He'll be the first guy to tell you that, but thought he looked solid, I would say,' Harbaugh said. His words were kind but also fair, pointing out that there is still room to improve.

Harbaugh also got personal when talking about Beckham Jr. He said he cares about Beckham Jr. as a friend and admires his determination. 'He's doing it for his son. You know, that just, as a friend, that makes me really proud of him,' Harbaugh said. The coach said he loves seeing Beckham Jr.'s fight and humility as he tries to make a comeback.

There was at least one big moment during the game where Beckham Jr. was wide open for a possible touchdown. Fans in the stands noticed it, and Beckham Jr. knew it too. Unfortunately, the quarterback did not see him and did not throw the ball his way. It was a missed chance that could have helped his case for making the team.

Beckham Jr. is competing for a spot as a third wide receiver on the team. The Giants already have strong receivers like Darius Slayton, Calvin Austin III, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. The team also drafted wide receiver Malachi Fields in the third round of this year's NFL Draft. That makes earning a spot even harder for Beckham Jr.

Beckham Jr. spent his first five NFL seasons with the Giants. He was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2014 and went to the Pro Bowl three times. After leaving New York, he played for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, and Los Angeles Rams. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Rams.

Last season, Beckham Jr. did not play for any team. He served a six-game suspension for using a banned performance-enhancing drug and was a free agent the whole year. Now he is trying to make a comeback with the team where his career began. He is competing against receivers like Braxton Berrios, Dalen Cambre, and Jalin Hyatt for a place on the roster.

The Giants are also waiting on young star receiver Malik Nabers, who is recovering from a torn ACL and meniscus injury from last season. Nabers has recently returned to practice drills with the team. The Giants are not rushing him into preseason games. There is hope that he will be healthy and ready to play by the first week of the regular season.

Many people think Beckham Jr. makes sense as an addition to the Giants' roster. He has a strong career history and a past connection to the team. He also showed some positive signs in his brief time on the field during the preseason game. Time will tell if he earns a spot when the regular season begins.