Odell Beckham Jr hauls in a pass against Philadelphia. Photo by Jesse Simmers / ContrastPhotography.com

By Michael Eisen
October 15, 2015

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Odell Beckham Jr. was non-committal and Rueben Randle was confident in assessing their chances today of playing Monday night, when the Giants will tangle with the Eagles in Lincoln Financial Field.

Both wide receivers strained their hamstrings in the second half of the team’s 30-27 victory over San Francisco on Sunday night. Beckham came out after his 17-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. He sat out until 30 seconds remained, when he re-entered the game and drew a pass interference penalty that helped set up Eli Manning’s game-winning touchdown pass to Larry Donnell.

Randle went to the sideline in the fourth quarter and did not return. He said today, however, he could have played again if it was necessary.

When the Giants began full-scale preparations for Philadelphia today, Beckham did not practice, and Randle was limited.

“(It’s a) day-by-day thing,” said Beckham, who leads the Giants in all three major receiving categories (31 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns). “With the game being Monday, so won’t really be able to tell until Monday. … Anytime that you can get some time off and recover, it is great, so I’m definitely going to use these days to my advantage.”

Pressed moments later whether he had a “good feeling” about playing, Beckham said, “Right now, I feel as if it’s a day-by-day thing, so we’ll see.”

Randle believes his day will come Monday night.

“I’m fine,” Randle said. “Today, I tried to test it a little bit, so it felt pretty good. It’s a little sore now, but it’s getting better. So long as I’m progressing, I’m pretty positive about it.”

With Victor Cruz still sidelined with a calf injury, the Giants played most of the fourth quarter Sunday without their projected top three receivers. They lined up instead with Dwayne Harris, Myles White and rookie Geremy Davis.

“A lot of faces people might not know, but they did their job,” Randle said. “They went out there and played hard and led us to a victory.”

Throwing to that relatively inexperienced trio might have worried some quarterbacks, but it didn’t faze the preternaturally calm Manning.

“I think you just go about your business,” Manning said. “Whoever is out there, understand what they do well. The system is set up where all the routes should be run the same way, the same timing. Whoever is playing, whoever is out there, will be fine. Hopefully we get all our guys back. But practicing with different guys and guys are in the mix and excited to be out there practicing and possibly an opportunity to play.”

Beckham would very much like to play. He missed the first four games of his sensational rookie season with a hamstring injury. Beckham does not want to slip back into the role of spectator, especially in a nationally-televised game against a division rival. He admits a balance must be achieved between his desire to play and being smart so he doesn’t aggravate the injury.

“It’s tough,” Beckham said. “It takes a lot, especially at game time. You work six days a week for really eight minutes of fun, really 60 minutes, but running plays, actually they say it’s an average of 8-11 minutes. You work all week for those opportunities and to have to sit out toward the end of the game, it wasn’t fun. But we found a way to get it done.

“I personally like practicing and being able to go through your routes, and you get reps. That way, when it comes to game time, you’ve already seen it, you’ve already ran it, you repped it and it’s just smooth sailing. Right now, all you can do is get mental reps and be ready for Monday.”

Randle was able to get real reps at practice, which he believes has put him on a path toward Philadelphia.

“I was a little limited, but I got my work in to see where I was at,” he said. “Like I said, it’s going up.”

Randle is also thankful for the Monday night game, which gives him an extra day to heal.

“It definitely will (help),” he said. “I look forward to it, just trying to rehab it as much as possible, strengthen back up, and see how it feels Monday night.”

Does that mean he thinks he will play?

“My thoughts are yeah,” Randle said. “I don’t see myself sitting out this game. It’s enough time for me to heal up enough to play, so we’ll see how it goes.”

*In addition to Beckham and Cruz, four Giants did not practice today. The list includes cornerback Prince Amukamara, who has already been declared out of the Eagles game with a partially torn pectoral muscle that is expected to sideline him for two-four weeks. The others were linebackers Jon Beason (concussion), Devon Kennard (hamstring) and Jonathan Casillas (calf).

Three players aside from Randle were limited: defensive ends Robert Ayers (hamstring) and George Selvie (calf), and cornerback Trumaine McBride (groin). Guard Justin Pugh (ankle) practiced fully.