The New York Giants released their first depth chart of the 2026 preseason on Wednesday, and one placement stood out among the wide receivers.
Veteran Odell Beckham Jr. appears as the team’s No. 3 wide receiver heading into Saturday’s exhibition opener against the Minnesota Vikings at MetLife Stadium. The listing comes as a surprise to some observers given the 33-year-old’s limited recent playing time and the competition for roster spots.
Beckham returned to the Giants this offseason after several years away from the franchise that drafted him. The team signed him amid a need for depth at the position, offering the three-time Pro Bowl selection a chance to compete for a roster spot and possible snaps during the regular season.
Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper highlighted the positioning while urging caution.
“Beckham is listed on the third string along with three other wideouts,” Alper wrote. “Reports from camp last week had Beckham, who did not play at all in 2025, getting reps with the first team, but it will be hard for a player who doesn’t play on special teams to make the cut from his current spot on the depth chart.”
The Giants selected Beckham with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as one of the league’s most dynamic playmakers, posting standout numbers early in his career.
His strongest season arrived in 2015, when he recorded 96 receptions for 1,450 yards and 13 touchdowns. Over his first stint with New York, Beckham amassed 390 catches for 5,476 yards and 44 scores before the team traded him.
In more recent years, production has declined sharply. Beckham appeared in 14 games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, finishing with 35 receptions for 565 yards and three touchdowns. He then played for the Miami Dolphins in 2024, managing just nine catches for 55 yards across limited action.
He sat out the entire 2025 season and has not appeared in an NFL game since that 2024 campaign. Across the past four seasons, the receiver has played in only 23 contests, totaling 44 receptions for 620 yards and three touchdowns.
At training camp, reports indicated Beckham has taken some first-team repetitions despite the third-string designation on the initial depth chart. The placement puts him behind the primary options while grouping him with other reserves vying for the final spots on the 53-man roster.
Special teams contributions often prove decisive for players in similar situations. Without a clear role there, Beckham faces an uphill battle to secure a place even if he performs well in the passing game during preseason contests.
The Vikings game marks the first opportunity for coaches and scouts to evaluate him in live action under game conditions this year. How he performs Saturday could influence whether the current depth chart ranking holds or shifts in the coming weeks.
Beckham’s return carries nostalgia for many Giants fans who remember his highlight-reel catches and energetic presence during his prime years in New York. Yet the reality of a 33-year-old receiver coming off a full season away from the field means expectations remain tempered.
Whether the depth chart ranking translates into meaningful playing time or a roster berth remains uncertain.
For now, the listing offers a modest vote of confidence as the preseason begins and the competition intensifies across the wide receiver group.
