Many words were said about if Nabers was going to be fully healthy, if OBJ would have a huge role, or if players like tight end Isaiah Likely would be relevant in the passing game. We have answers now.

After Week 1, it’s all clear, so let’s break it down as the first game against Cowboys was very telling. Remember, Matt Nagy is the one calling plays from the booth, but his plans worked to perfection.

Malik Nabers is a star

Not much a doubt in terms of usage, but a confirmation that he is healthy. Nabers led the team in targets (9), and had six catches for 69 yards. When healthy, Nabers is the WR1 of this team and will be a difference-maker.

Odell Beckham Jr. is a locker room presence more than a weapon

Jaxson Dart didn’t look for OBJ at all, and in all fairness, the wideout wasn’t heavily deployed either. Odell Beckham Jr. played in 11 snaps only and had zero targets. Given how the Giants had 69 offensive snaps, it’s clear OBJ’s role won’t be big.

Isaiah Likely will have a huge role in this offense

While Nabers led the team in targets with nine, Likely had eight. However, he was looked at when third downs came into play and in the clutch. Likely led the Giants in receptions as he hauled in his eight targets for a team-leading 78 yards and two touchdowns. He will be a massive problem to deal with for opposing defenses.

Malachi Fields and other WRs

• Malachi Fields: 4 targets, 2 catches, 25 yards
• Darnell Mooney: 2 targets, 2 catches, 27 yards
• Braxton Berrios: 0 targets, just 12 snaps, 4 routes run
• Theo Johnson (TE): 1 target, 1 catch, 9 yards

Jordan Raanan of ESPN reported that Beckham is over the moon. “My heart just flutters a little bit just thinking about it. This is a special place to me,” OBJ said. He’ll be a part of the roster as the Giants face the Cowboys in Week 1.

OBJ is arguably the best receiver the Giants have had in the 21st century. He holds the highest receiving yards per game average in Giants history at 92.8 yards. From 2014 through 2016, Beckham recorded three straight seasons with at least 90 receptions, 1,300 yards, and 10 touchdowns. He was the fastest player in NFL history to reach 200 catches and 4,000 yards.

OBJ’s role in 2026 for the NY Giants

Now a veteran past his prime, Odell Beckham Jr. serves as the clear number-four wide receiver and a veteran presence for the New York Giants in the 2026 season. Still, he is a premium fourth-stringer that could rise to the occasion every once in a while. He’ll be great at situational offense.

The first option is Malik Nabers, who could lose his spot in Week 1 after a surprising injury update. Then, rookie Malachi Fields is the second option. Darnell Mooney can be viewed as the WR3, with OBJ going fourth in the progressions.

The NY Giants need their weapons to deliver

It’s a brand new day for the Giants with the arrival of John Harbaugh as the head coach. The G-Men’s front office was very aggressive to bring new people in search of results.

The latest comments from teammate Odell Beckham Jr. provide insight into what the young receiver is going through. When asked how a player knows when it is time to return from a severe injury, Beckham emphasized that the process begins with “fear and anxiety,” according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, demonstrating his concern for his teammate.

“You know, the only thing that I’ve said is there’s going to be that bit of fear and anxiety,” Beckham said. “And it’s a natural thing. He looks great. But deep down inside, it’s a decision for him because at the end of the day, let’s say something were to happen again that isn’t good, he’s the one who’s affected. And then his career is then not necessarily in his hands. Teams get to make a decision about keeping you, and then things could go wrong.”

Beckham’s advice to Nabers

Nabers is looking to return after tearing his ACL in Week 3 of the 2025 NFL season. Having overcome torn ACLs and other significant injuries himself, Beckham was asked to reflect on what his teammate is currently experiencing.

“So, my advice for him is like when you are ready, and you feel it, that’s when you come back,” Beckham continued. “But at the same point in time, you’re not going to feel like your one thousand percent self until some point in the early, middle of the season. It’s just something that takes time. He’s done a great job with his rehab. And whatever decision he makes, everybody in here is going to stand behind him. And I think we’re all excited to have him back.”

At any rate, Nabers is listed as questionable for New York‘s Week 1 contest against the Cowboys on Sunday, as it remains to be seen whether he makes his return. However, the Giants expect him to return later, as they keep him in mind.

Nabers eager to return

Nabers said he wants to play and has been itching to get on the field since he tore his right ACL last September, though the final decision to play ultimately rests with him. He had 18 receptions for 271 yards in 2025 following a smashing debut as a rookie, in which he posted 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns.

Now joining the Giants at a very different stage in his career, Beckham expressed what he expects to feel on Sunday night. Speaking to ESPN on “NFL Live,” Beckham was asked about returning to play in New York, where his last appearance came during the 2018 season. The 33-year-old wide receiver was candid in describing how special it feels to return to the franchise and city where he had his first NFL experience, emphasizing his excitement to reunite with the fans.

“My heart flutters a little bit just thinking about it,” Beckham said. “This is a special place to me. I think that it’s been a lot of love, you know, and I want to be able to give my all to this organization, this city, and that’s kind of why I came back. So I’m expecting the stadium to have a little bit of noise, and it’s just something that I’m so grateful for that God’s giving me the opportunity to have.”

Gratitude for the fans

After spending the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Giants from 2014 to 2018, Beckham returned to New York as a free agent on June 1. While his status on the Giants’ 53-man roster was far from secure when training camp started, he carved out a role within their receiving corps to earn a spot, knowing his return was partly due to the fans.

“I definitely think a lot of it is the fans,” Beckham said regarding what excites him most. “You know, the people of New York, I want to give them everything that I got, and let’s bring Giants football back to where I feel like it belongs.”

A new look for Beckham

Beckham also saw an opportunity to have a little fun with his hair while he still can. “It’s always fun to switch it up,” Beckham said. “I could have black hair forever … I can’t fry this [hair] forever and it might grow back. Now was the time.”

Beckham sported his natural hair color during training camp before returning to blonde ahead of the Giants’ season opener against the Cowboys. Beckham, who did not make an appearance last season, most recently played for the Dolphins in 2024, totaling nine receptions for 55 yards.

“Oh, nah,” Beckham said when asked if he could show off his hair for the media in attendance. Asked again, Beckham would not budge, saying, “Nah. We’ll see that when you see it. You can see a little something, though,” while pointing toward his hair.

According to Connor Hughes of SNY, Slayton was being considered a healthy scratch because the Giants planned to field Beckham. Releasing Slayton provides him with the opportunity to find another team. As expected, Beckham remained the priority.

The Giants kept Beckham on their initial 53-man roster. While the name naturally draws attention, the final preseason game provided a simple football justification: Beckham finished with three catches for 53 yards against the Jets. John Harbaugh noted afterward that he had done enough to earn a spot on an NFL roster. The Giants agreed, keeping a veteran receiver who can still find space and make plays down the field.

A conviction-driven decision

Nobody expects Beckham to replicate his 2014 form. With Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, and Malachi Fields around him, Beckham does not have to carry the entire passing game. His value lies in the role he can fill when defenses tilt coverage toward the top options. A veteran receiver who knows how to uncover on third down or make a tough catch near the sideline has a place on a roster, even without 100 targets.

The Giants kept five receivers on the depth chart. Five is a tight room, meaning every spot had to justify itself. Beckham beat out other options because the staff saw enough in his preseason work to keep him around.

Despite his release, Slayton made it clear that Beckham remains fit and ready to demonstrate his level in the NFL, adding that his experience can make him a key player in crucial moments.

Beckham “still has juice” to deliver big plays, according to Slayton. “I think he’s shown that,“ Slayton said on ESPN. “He can still play for sure.” The tables turned as Slayton was cut, while Beckham remains with the franchise.

According to Jordan Raanan of ESPN, “Beckham went out of his way this summer to blend in seamlessly. He wanted to concentrate on football and lay low until he made the team. He limited the number of interviews he gave.”

For a guy who was used to get all of the spotlights, this proved to the Giants that OBJ was all for team business, not his business. For a head coach like John Harbaugh, that’s music to his ears.

OBJ’s stats with the NY Giants

After six years away, Odell Beckham Jr. is back with the G-Men. However, before that, he played five years with the Giants. Needless to say, he was absolutely outstanding during that span.

He had 390 receptions for 5,476 yards and 44 touchdowns. If not for injuries, he was on pace to have a historic career. His talent is second to none. He virtually had no weakness to his game during his prime.

The Giants need OBJ to be a leader due to the other WRs on the roster

The New York Giants’ two best wideouts are young players like Malik Nabers and Malachi Fields. Hence, while they are young, they can use a mentor like OBJ who knows what is like to be a top-tier weapon on this team.

“He kind of was the base person that literally made me start watching football,” Nabers said, via ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. “The dances, the one-handers. And he was probably the first person I started really watching when I started playing football. He was the main person. So, just for him being here right now, in the same room as me, it’s surreal. Sometimes I got to take a moment, but to have him here is actually amazing.”

The latest injury update on Nabers has him in good shape for the Week 1 opener against the Dallas Cowboys. It remains to be seen whether at some point during the season he will be able to share the field with his biggest idol throughout his career.

An elite WR room for the Giants

If there is one thing to highlight about the Giants heading into the start of the season, it is how well they have operated both in the draft and during the offseason. One of their main goals? Surrounding Jaxson Dart with as much talent as possible on offense.

The top options in the passing game include the aforementioned Malik Nabers, rookie Malachi Fields, and Darnell Mooney, who most recently played for the Atlanta Falcons. A little further down the depth chart are two seasoned veterans: Odell Beckham Jr. and Darius Slayton.

New York kicks off the 2026 NFL season

The Giants are facing a absolute trial by fire to kick off the 2026 season. They host the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football in Week 1, followed by a brutal West Coast trip to face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday Night Football.

After that primetime double-header, things look a bit more manageable on paper with home games against the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals before taking on the Washington Commanders in Landover for Week 5. If New York can somehow survive that opening gauntlet and split the divisional games, they’ll be in a prime position to build serious momentum through the rest of October.

Beckham was seen wearing that famous number again during the Giants’ final preparations for the 2026 season, prompting questions about how the number was returned to the veteran wide receiver.

Giants general manager Joe Schoen revealed that he did not have to get involved in the process. Many fans and experts thought there would be a controversy with Abdul Carter trying to get No. 3. However, OBJ chose another option.

Which number will Odell Beckham Jr. wear with Giants?

Joe Schoen was asked whether he had to play a role in Odell Beckham’s return to No. 13 or whether the situation was handled inside the locker room. His answer was simple. “I didn’t have to get involved in that. So, it worked out, he’s happy to be back in 13.”

The No. 13 jersey is particularly significant for Beckham, who wore it throughout his first stint with New York and became one of the NFL’s biggest stars while wearing it.

Schoen also acknowledged that his relationship with Beckham is relatively new. ” I wasn’t here previously with him, so I didn’t really have a relationship with Odell. So, it’s been good getting to know him, and always admired him from afar.”

Giants hope OBJ has a strong 2026 season

Joe Schoen also pointed out that Beckham looked good back in his familiar jersey. “Now that he’s back in the 13, he looked good in that out there. So, hoping he has a good season for us.”

For Beckham, the return to No. 13 is another part of what has already been an emotional comeback with the Giants. After spending a year away from the NFL, the veteran receiver earned his place on New York’s roster and will now have an opportunity to contribute during the 2026 season.

Schoen did not need to intervene to make the jersey-number situation happen, but he clearly appreciates what Beckham’s return could mean for the Giants. And now that OBJ is officially back in No. 13, the next step is proving that he can still make an impact on the field.

“Really just proud of him. He came in here, he earned it. He got better each and every week and he’s playing his best ball since he got here right now,” the quarterback said speaking to the press after practice.

In East Rutherford, there is growing excitement about an elite offense, with Dart entering the season with more experience and surrounded by players with plenty of NFL experience. Can this duo make a statement and ultimately win the NFC East?

Dart enters his sophomore season more settled

Jaxson Dart enters his second year as a professional with a much firmer grasp of the offense, having transition-tested his dual-threat style after taking over starting duties mid-season. Despite step-up pressures and rookie growing pains, his poise under center improved down the stretch, showing smart decision-making and protecting the football while adding a dangerous mobility element in the red zone.

In 14 games (12 starts) during his 2025 rookie campaign with the Giants, Dart completed 216 of 339 passes (63.7%) for 2,272 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions, posting a solid 91.7 passer rating while adding 487 yards and 9 scores on the ground.

OBJ’s last NFL appearance

OBJ’s last stint in the NFL came with the Miami Dolphins in 2024, where his role was reduced to that of a veteran depth piece. Dealing with injuries and limited snaps in a crowded receiver room, Beckham Jr. appeared in nine games without a start, recording nine receptions on 18 targets for 55 yards and no touchdowns before being released late in the season.

Dart’s excitement about having Nabers

John Harbaugh’s receiving corps for the upcoming season features five players, with Malik Nabers standing out as the top name. Dart, who often relies heavily on the passing game, expressed his excitement about having the No. 1 receiver at his disposal.

“Whenever he’s out there on the field, whenever his time is ready for us as a team, I think it’s going to change a lot,” Dart expressed to the press. Nabers will have another chance to make his mark in East Rutherford after suffering a devastating injury last season.

Beckham Jr. and Carter both shared the Giants‘ No. 3 jersey throughout training camp and the NFL preseason. However, after Beckham let Jalin Hyatt know his intentions about the No. 13 jersey, it was clear the veteran wideout would be returning to his old number in no time. Finally, it was made official. Carter celebrated the news with a funny post on social media.

“It’s about damn time,” Carter stated on his X account, @1NCRDB1. He didn’t actually write that message, though, instead he simply quoted the Giants’ announcement with a GIF of LeBron James saying those words after winning an NBA championship with the Miami Heat.

New jerseys in New York-New Jersey

It’s always a hot topic around the New York Giants and a cause of social media stir whenever someone references the G-Men’s home as New York instead of New Jersey, where MetLife Stadium is located.

Fortunately, though, there will be no more confusion in East Rutherford’s locker rooms now. Duplicate numbers are a thing of the past—and of the preseason. With the 2026 NFL campaign looming on the horizon, the jersey changes have been made official.

Carter will wear No. 3 (he donned No. 51 during his rookie year), Beckham Jr. is now No. 13, and Hyatt—though he is on the practice squad—has taken up No. 81. There will be no mistake when talking about the Giants’ No. 13—it will be the same wide receiver who turned that number into a star a decade ago in the Meadowlands.

“He’ll be in that receiver group. He’ll be rotating in, different personnel groups, and he’ll be playing,” the HC recently revealed to the press. It will be a matter of seeing whether OBJ will ultimately have a more prominent role as the weeks go by.

Malik Nabers is the main weapon at the LWR position, and only a physical setback could cause him to lose the spot. With a new season just around the corner, Beckham Jr. will have to step up his efforts if he wants to break into the starting lineup at some point.

The importance of the Giants’ receiving corps

The G-Men’s offense is expected to be a major strength this season, with Jaxson Dart relying heavily on his receivers. At full strength, this unit could become a nightmare for opposing teams starting in Week 1.

Malachi Fields and Darnell Mooney join Nabers as the main options in the passing game. In addition, veteran Darius Slayton is another player who will be part of the rotation, likely with a role similar to OBJ’s.

Harbaugh’s first challenges in New York

Harbaugh will make his debut as the Giants’ new head coach, marking a new experience for him in the NFL after a lengthy career with the Baltimore Ravens. His coaching methodology is making its way to East Rutherford, where he will look to implement his football philosophy starting in Week 1.

The debut will be far from easy, although playing at home could perhaps give them an extra boost. On September 13, the Big Blue will host the Dallas Cowboys at the iconic MetLife Stadium.

What comes next will not be an easy task either. The Giants will visit SoFi Stadium to face the Los Angeles Rams, followed by two consecutive home games against the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals, before hitting the road again for a divisional matchup in Week 5 against the Washington Commanders.