There's no place like home: Odell Beckham Jr. completes strong Giants preseason

Pat Leonard, New York Daily News on Aug 28, 2026

Published in Football

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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Odell Beckham Jr. wore sparkling red cleats Friday night seemingly designed to look like Dorothy’s ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz.

The message was clear: There’s no place like home.

And home for OBJ is MetLife Stadium, where he aims to author his next Giant chapter by making the 53-man roster this weekend.

He almost did it Friday in storybook style.

Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy dialed up a shot play to Beckham early in the second quarter. Beckham was open.

The crowd rose and began to roar as Jameis Winston launched the ball over the defense. But the ball was slightly overthrown. Beckham lunged and tried to haul it in, but the ball bobbled incomplete.

It would have been a terrific way to welcome Beckham back, but it wasn’t necessary for him to make the roster. He’s already done enough, including three catches for 53 yards while starting and playing all of Friday’s first half.

Winston was intercepted on the Giants’ first possession throwing to Beckham on third down.

The throw was late, and Beckham slipped at the top of his route. Jets corner Qwan’tez Stiggers closed on the pass, batted it into the air and into the hands of teammate Marcelino McCrary-Ball for the pick.

Winston and Beckham stayed with it on the next possession, though.

Winston hit OBJ for a 13-yard gain on third-and-10 to move the chains for his first catch. And Beckham hopped up with energy and enthusiasm.

As the Giants drove into the red zone, Beckham even walked over to right tackle Marcus Mbow and appeared to ask the offensive lineman to spit into the receiver’s gloves to create some stick.

Teammate Braxton Berrios fumbled the ball away to end that drive. But Beckham came right back on the next series and caught a 23-yard pass from Winston over the middle down to the 6-yard line.

OBJ jumped up and pointed both arms forward for the first down. That set up a Tyrone Tracy Jr. touchdown run.

Once linebacker Zaire Barnes intercepted the Jets’ Cade Klubnik, Winston and Beckham had a chance to blow the lid off the preseason crowd with that deep shot.

It wasn’t meant to be. But Beckham kept going anyway.

He had his right forearm bandaged in red from a burn on the turf while lunging for the deep ball. He came back into the game and caught a 17-yard crosser from third-string QB Brandon Allen.

Then he drew a pass interference call in the red zone to set up a Dominic Zvada field goal.

Next stop, Week 1. As long as the Giants share Beckham’s feelings about his being back in New York:

There’s no place like home.