Odell Beckham Jr. knows roster spot with Giants isn't a given - ESPN

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Odell Beckham Jr. knows the expectations are different in his second stint with the New York Giants.

This isn't the OBJ that go off to a historic start to his career with three straight 1,300-plus-yard seasons. Instead, this is the 33-year-old version that seems to know that even a roster spot is not guaranteed and that he's going to have to show enough this spring and summer to make the team.

«I like it this way,» Beckham said Wednesday after his third practice since signing with the Giants. «I feel like it's going to elevate me, bring me up to have to earn it.»

On the second play of live drills, Beckham was already on the field lined up wide right with the first-team offense and quarterback Jaxson Dart. He dragged across the middle and was open but didn't get the ball. Three plays later, Beckham was targeted deep down the right sideline but couldn't corral the pass as he hit the ground hard along with cornerback Deonte Banks.

That he was on the field so quickly can be viewed as a positive. Beckham is part of a jumble of wide receivers that includes JuJu Smith-Schuster and Braxton Berrios, who also signed on Monday. Malik Nabers (knee) and Darius Slayton (core muscle) are sidelined until at least the summer, and Gunner Olszewski (Achilles) was lost for the season.

«We'll see what happens,» new coach John Harbaugh said of the added veterans. «They'll be competing for roles. They'll be competing for their opportunity, just like everybody else. Let's see how it goes.»

Beckham understands he has to prove himself.

«Coach and I talked about it,» Beckham said. «I think that was one of his fears. He's like, 'I love you so much and have so much respect for you. I don't want to bring you here and have to