Giants Teammates Wish Odell Beckham Jr. Well After Release

News of Odell Beckham Jr.’s release spread around the New York Giants facility, where players were disappointed to see the franchise icon leave.

Kayvon Thibodeaux and Isaiah Likely expressed gratitude for playing Beckham and feel he still has more to do in the NFL.

The Giants released Beckham Tuesday after he played just 20 snaps in three games in his second tour with the Giants. Beckham, the No. 12 pick of the 2014 NFL draft, spent his first five seasons with the Giants before he was traded to the Cleveland Browns.

Kayvon Thibodeaux, Isaiah Likely Wish Odell Beckham Jr. Well.

The Giants brought Beckham back on a nonguaranteed, one-year contract June 1. He played well enough to make the team out of training camp as one of only five wideouts on the Giants’ roster.

Even though Beckham earned only one target through his three-game tenure, his now-former teammates think there is more football in the wideout’s future.

“Wish him the best,” Thibodeaux said. “He’s a legend in the game; he’s fought so hard to make his way back in this league, and he’s definitely going to be able to make a statement somewhere. I’m not worried for him.”

Thibodeaux was Beckham’s teammate for only four months. But Likely had a longer tenure as Beckham’s teammate, since they spent 2023 together with the Baltimore Ravens as well as with the Giants.

“Hearts to him,” Likely said. “Obviously, I loved playing with [Beckham]. I played with him the past couple of years. I was blessed to play with him in Baltimore and again here. Hopefully wherever he ends up, he does what Odell does.”

Giants, Odell Beckham Jr. Agreed to ‘Part Ways’

Though the Giants officially released the 33-year-old, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that Beckham and the Giants mutually agreed to part ways so he could find a better opportunity elsewhere.

Beckham did not have a reception in three regular-season games and was the clear No. 5 receiver on the depth chart behind Malik Nabers, Darnell Mooney, Malachi Fields and even Braxton Berrios, the Giants’ punt returner who was signed to their active roster Tuesday.

Unlike Berrios, Beckham does not play special teams, which helped seal his fate.

Giants receivers have hardly been featured since Jaxson Dart sustained a season-ending knee injury in their 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 21. Mooney, Nabers and Fields have combined for just 130 receiving yards on 13 receptions.