Harbaugh Says Beckham Has Earned 53-Man Shot as Giants Face 6 p.m. Cutdown

Q: If Odell Beckham Jr. makes the cut, which promising young Giants receiver gets left behind?

Jalin Hyatt appears to be the young Giants receiver most likely to be left behind if Odell Beckham Jr. makes the team. That was the strongest thread in the reporting even before the cutdown deadline, with multiple outlets identifying Hyatt as the likeliest odd man out in a crowded receiver room. The football case is straightforward: Malik Nabers and rookie Malachi Fields are viewed as locks, Darnell Mooney and Darius Slayton remained ahead of Hyatt, and Beckham’s late-camp surge pushed him past fringe contenders. Hyatt also lost ground because special teams matter heavily for back-end receiver spots, and Beckham’s main competition there came more from players such as Braxton Berrios, Dalen Cambre and Xavier Gipson than from established outside receivers. Hyatt’s own circumstances hurt his chances. Reports said he missed camp time with an injury, had not outperformed Beckham, and never fully established himself after being drafted in the third round in 2023. His production through three seasons — 36 catches for 470 yards and no touchdowns — reinforced the sense that he had not claimed a meaningful offensive role. By Sunday, that possibility had effectively become reality. Multiple reports said Beckham made the Giants’ initial 53-man roster, while Hyatt was waived. So the answer to the question is not just theoretical anymore: the promising young receiver who lost out was Jalin Hyatt.

Q: Could a shocking 20.54 mph preseason sprint save Odell Beckham Jr.'s NFL career at the final hour?

Yes — or more accurately, it appears to have helped complete the case. Beckham’s 20.54 mph burst in the preseason finale did not save his career by itself, but it gave vivid proof that, at 33 and after a long layoff, he still has NFL-caliber speed and can separate from defenders. On the near-73-yard touchdown against the Jets, tracking data showed him still able to run past coverage, which addressed the biggest question around him: whether his body could still produce starter-level movement. That play mattered because Beckham was fighting for one of the final receiver spots in a crowded Giants room and offered little special-teams value, a common disadvantage for bubble players. His overall preseason line — seven catches on 13 targets for 76 yards, including three for 53 yards in the finale — combined with steady camp improvement and full attendance gave coaches more than nostalgia to consider. John Harbaugh’s public assessment was telling. He said Beckham “has done enough to make an NFL roster, for sure,” while stopping short at the time of guaranteeing a Giants spot. Subsequent reporting, however, indicates Beckham did make New York’s initial 53-man roster. So the sprint was not a miracle rescue at the final hour. It was the clearest snapshot of a broader comeback case: improving camp tape, visible separation, durability through the summer, and one explosive reminder that Beckham still has enough athleticism to belong in the league.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 29

John Harbaugh said Odell Beckham Jr. has "done enough to make an NFL roster" after the 33-year-old receiver's three-game preseason push with the Giants.
Seven catches for 76 yards on 13 targets helped Beckham strengthen his case before New York must cut from a 90-man camp roster to 53 by Sunday evening.
The decision is still tight because the Giants are expected to keep only six or seven receivers, with Malik Nabers and third-round pick Malachi Fields viewed as roster locks.
Special-teams value could work against Beckham, who is competing with veterans and younger depth options for the remaining four to five spots.
For Beckham, who last played a regular-season game in 2024 and returned to New York on a one-year deal, making the roster would cap a comeback after injuries and two difficult years.