Rewind the NFL clock about a decade. Odell Beckham Jr. is entering his third season with the New York Giants. He's a highlight machine, producing impossible catches seemingly every week. He looks like he's on track to become one of the greatest players in franchise history, with an upward trajectory that could land him in the Hall of Fame.
Unfortunately, that trajectory didn't continue. Beckham Jr. faced multiple injuries, soon leaving the Giants to start a tour throughout the league that has landed him in the veteran backup zone. His reunion with Big Blue this offseason came as more of an opportunity to reminisce than as a dial-turning move.
But Beckham Jr. himself is rewinding his NFL career in Giants training camp. He's already made a few impressive catches, including a sideline masterpiece on Saturday. Per Dan Duggan, "We finally got an Odell highlight. He had a vintage toe-tapping catch in the back of the end zone from Jameis Winston."
Odell Beckham Jr.'s training camp stardom takes Giants fans back to the good old days
Beckham Jr. may not be returning as the true No. 1 receiver he was when he left New York, but he still has something left in the tank. He has been stringing together some solid performances in training camp practices, offering his quarterbacks a reliable target.
The veteran wideout is competing for limited space in a crowded New York wide receiver room. Currently, he's battling JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jalin Hyatt, Isaiah Hodgins, and Braxton Berrios for what may only be one spot on the final 53-man roster.
Beckham Jr. appears to be the front runner in that position battle so far.
While he likely won't see much of the field for the Giants this season, especially if Malik Nabers is fully healthy by Week 1, the veteran wideout still has plenty to offer the G-Men.
Not only can he be a mentor for young players like Nabers and rookie Malachi Fields, but he can also lift the floor of the pass-catching group with his reliable play. The Giants don't need Beckham Jr. to be a star. If he can take 20 targets on the season and consistently turn them into positive plays, his presence will be a major benefit for New York.
The 33-year-old receiver has primarily been working with the second-string unit in training camp. Still, it's encouraging to see him making highlight plays in a blue jersey again.
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