Odell Beckham injury update: Giants’ WR is game-time decision

New York Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. suffered a high ankle sprain in the preseason. He’s a game-time decision in Week 1 versus the Dallas Cowboys.

The New York Giants have a huge first game of the 2017 NFL season on Sunday Night Football. They will be playing their NFC East nemesis in the Dallas Cowboys in primetime at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. However, it will be a game-time decision if Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will be able to go.

According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, “Odell Beckham is a game-time decision.” New York isn’t ruling him out entirely, but they are not banking on him being to go in this one. Beckham suffered a high ankle sprain in a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns a few weeks ago.

High ankle sprains are tricky injuries, especially for wide receivers like Beckham. While he can run in a straight line, high ankle sprains make it difficult for receivers to plant and change direction on routes.

Beckham loves to run in-breaking routes in Ben McAdoo’s offense. He is about as good as any player in the league in being able to take a slant pattern to the house for six points. However, lining him up on the outside as a vertical threat decoy probably isn’t in the Giants’ best interest.

New York will be as good offensively as Beckham makes the Giants. Though they have a bevy of receiving talent, the Giants’ offensive line and running game leaves a lot to be desired. Quarterback Eli Manning does not have the arm strength he once had and will throw the inopportune pick about once a game.

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With this being a primetime kickoff in Arlington, maybe Beckham will be able to give it a go on Sunday night? However, he cannot be expected to carry the Giants offense in Week 1 like he is asked to most weeks during the season.