Odell Beckham Jr.’s reunion with the New York Giants lasted only three regular-season games.
The Giants released the veteran wide receiver on September 29, 2026, bringing an unexpectedly quick end to a comeback that began when Beckham returned to the franchise that drafted him in June.
The move was not tied to a reported injury, suspension or off-field issue. Instead, Beckham simply never developed a meaningful role in New York’s offense. He played only 19 offensive snaps over the first three games, was targeted once and did not record a catch. [NFL] [Reuters]
At the same time, the Giants needed roster space for players who could contribute more immediately, including wide receivers and return specialists Braxton Berrios and Charlie Jones. [Giants]
Why Did The Giants Release Odell Beckham Jr.?
The simplest explanation is that Beckham was not playing enough to justify occupying one of the Giants’ 53 active-roster spots.
According to the NFL, Beckham appeared on only 19 offensive snaps during his three games back with New York. He received one target and finished his second Giants stint with zero receptions, zero receiving yards and zero touchdowns. [NFL]
Reuters similarly reported that Beckham had played roughly 20 offensive snaps and had been targeted just once, with that target coming during New York’s 12-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans. [Reuters]
For a 33-year-old receiver who does not have a major special-teams role, that made it difficult for the Giants to continue devoting an active roster spot to him.
Who Replaced Beckham On The Giants’ Roster?
The timing of the move helps explain New York’s thinking.
On the same day Beckham was released, the Giants promoted wide receivers Braxton Berrios and Charlie Jones from the practice squad to the active roster. The team also placed edge rusher Brian Burns on injured reserve. [Giants]
Berrios in particular offered something Beckham did not: established value as a kick and punt returner.
The Giants had already elevated Berrios from the practice squad during each of the first three weeks of the season. NFL practice-squad rules limit how many times a player can be elevated for a game without being signed to the active roster, making a permanent roster move increasingly necessary. [Big Blue View]
Jones also provides return-game experience, giving New York two players capable of contributing on special teams in addition to serving as depth receivers.
How Much Did Beckham Play?
Almost none.
Despite making the 53-man roster out of training camp, Beckham was essentially a reserve receiver during the first three weeks.
- Games: 3
- Offensive snaps: 19, according to NFL Next Gen Stats
- Targets: 1
- Receptions: 0
- Receiving yards: 0
- Touchdowns: 0
Those numbers were dramatically different from the Beckham Giants fans remembered from his first stint with the team. [NFL]
Why Did The Giants Bring Beckham Back?
Beckham’s return made sense as a low-risk offseason gamble.
He worked out for the Giants in June and impressed the organization enough to earn a contract. New York announced his signing on June 1, along with veteran receiver Braxton Berrios. [Giants]
The Giants also had uncertainty at wide receiver at the time. Gunner Olszewski was placed on injured reserve as Beckham arrived, while the team was still assembling its receiving corps for new head coach John Harbaugh. [Giants]
Beckham’s contract also made the experiment financially inexpensive.
According to Over The Cap, Beckham signed a one-year contract worth $1.3 million with no guaranteed money. Because it qualified for the NFL’s veteran salary benefit, the deal carried a reduced salary-cap charge of approximately $1.075 million. [Over The Cap]
That structure gave the Giants the ability to evaluate Beckham without making a significant long-term financial commitment.
Was Beckham Guaranteed To Make The Team?
No.
Beckham entered training camp competing for a roster position rather than returning as a guaranteed starter.
He eventually earned one of the Giants’ initial 53 roster spots after a solid training camp and preseason. ESPN reported at the time that Beckham had successfully completed his comeback after spending the previous season out of the NFL. [ESPN]
Harbaugh praised Beckham after he made the team, noting how unusual it was for a veteran to return after such a long absence and earn another opportunity. [Giants]
The next challenge was turning that roster spot into an actual offensive role. That never happened.
Why Was Beckham Wearing No. 13 Again?
One of the most sentimental parts of Beckham’s comeback was his return to his famous No. 13 jersey.
Beckham initially wore No. 3 during offseason practices but reclaimed No. 13 after making the active roster. It was the same number he had worn during his original Giants career from 2014 through 2018. [Giants]
Beckham described wearing the number again as an honor and a privilege.
Unfortunately for Beckham and Giants fans hoping for a nostalgic comeback, he never caught another regular-season pass wearing it.
How Good Was Beckham During His First Giants Career?
The abrupt ending was particularly notable because Beckham remains one of the most productive receivers in Giants history.
New York selected Beckham with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He immediately became one of the league’s biggest stars, winning AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and earning Pro Bowl selections in each of his first three seasons. [Giants]
During his first five seasons in New York, Beckham accumulated:
- 390 receptions
- 5,476 receiving yards
- 44 touchdown catches
- Three Pro Bowl selections
- Two second-team All-Pro selections
His 92.8 receiving yards per game during that stretch remains the highest career average by a Giants player with at least 50 games played. [Giants]
The franchise ranked Beckham No. 37 on its list of the 100 greatest Giants when the team celebrated its centennial season. [Giants]
Why Did Beckham Leave The Giants The First Time?
Beckham’s first Giants tenure ended very differently.
After signing a five-year contract extension in 2018, Beckham was traded to the Cleveland Browns in March 2019 in one of the NFL’s biggest transactions of that offseason.
The Giants received safety Jabrill Peppers, a first-round draft pick and a third-round pick in the deal.
Beckham later played for the Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. His most significant post-Giants achievement came with Los Angeles, where he helped the Rams win Super Bowl LVI before suffering a torn ACL during the championship game.
By the time he returned to the Giants in 2026, Beckham was attempting to prove he could still contribute after injuries and several abbreviated seasons.
What Happened To Beckham After His Prime?
Injuries dramatically changed the trajectory of Beckham’s career.
He fractured his ankle during the 2017 season, tore an ACL while playing for Cleveland in 2020 and tore the same ACL again during Super Bowl LVI in February 2022.
Beckham missed the entire 2022 season while recovering.
He returned with Baltimore in 2023 and later joined Miami in 2024, but never returned to the statistical production of his early Giants years.
Before his 2026 comeback, Beckham had played only 23 games over the previous four NFL seasons and had sat out the entire 2025 season. [Reuters]
Did Beckham Play Badly For The Giants?
There is an important distinction between playing badly and barely playing at all.
Beckham did not have a string of dropped passes or turnovers that directly caused the Giants to release him. He simply wasn’t involved enough in the offense to establish significant production.
Big Blue View noted that Beckham had mostly been used as a blocker or decoy when he was on the field. [Big Blue View]
With Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney and rookie Malachi Fields occupying receiving roles and the Giants needing players who could also contribute on special teams, Beckham’s path to more snaps was increasingly narrow.
Was Beckham’s Release Because Of His Contract?
Financial considerations made Beckham easy to release, but there is no indication that the move was primarily a salary-cap maneuver.
His $1.3 million contract contained no guaranteed money, according to Over The Cap. [Over The Cap]
That meant the Giants were not tied to Beckham by a large signing bonus or future guaranteed salary.
The more immediate issue was roster value: Beckham was taking very few offensive snaps while Berrios and Jones offered receiving depth plus special-teams versatility.
Was Beckham’s Release Connected To The Giants’ Other Roster Moves?
Yes, at least in terms of roster construction.
The Giants made several significant moves around the same time.
They acquired quarterback J.J. McCarthy from the Minnesota Vikings after Jaxson Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury, placed star edge rusher Brian Burns on injured reserve and promoted Berrios and Jones from the practice squad. [Giants Transactions]
That created a rapidly changing roster entering Week 4.
Beckham’s extremely limited role made his spot one of the easier ones for New York to reconsider.
Will Odell Beckham Jr. Retire?
Beckham had not announced his retirement immediately after his release.
Reports indicated that he was not expected to return to the Giants’ practice squad and instead planned to look for another opportunity with a team that could offer him a more substantial role. [Big Blue View]
Because Beckham is a vested veteran, his situation differs from that of younger players who are subject to the normal waiver process. He can pursue another NFL opportunity as a free agent.
Whether another team gives him that opportunity will likely depend on injuries around the league and whether a contender believes the veteran can still help as a rotational receiver.
How Short Was Beckham’s Giants Comeback?
Beckham signed with the Giants on June 1.
He survived training camp and the preseason, made the 53-man roster, reclaimed No. 13 and appeared in the team’s first three regular-season games.
Then, on September 29, New York officially listed his contract as terminated. [Giants]
His second stint therefore lasted almost four months as a member of the organization — but only three regular-season games.
What Does Beckham’s Release Mean?
The move turned what appeared to be one of the NFL’s more sentimental 2026 comeback stories into a brief footnote.
Beckham had accomplished the difficult part simply by returning to the league after a year away, making an NFL roster at age 33 and putting on No. 13 for the Giants again.
But making the roster was only the first step. Beckham needed to prove he could command offensive snaps and targets.
After three games, 19 offensive snaps, one target and no receptions, the Giants decided those opportunities were better used elsewhere.
